The Effect of the Low Fodmap Diet in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Inclusion Criteria:

• 6-17 age range

• Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

• Parent/Caregiver report of constipation and /or abdominal pain. • ROME IV criteria wasutilized to identify constipation (defined as the presence of two of more of thefollowing symptoms: Two or fewer stools per week, at least 1 episode of fecalincontinence per week, history of retentive posturing or excessive volitional stoolretention, history of painful or hard bowel movements, presence of a large fecal massin the rectum, history of large diameter stools that can obstruct the toilet) • ROMEIV criteria was utilized to identify abdominal pain (defined as the fulfilled at least 4 times per month and include all of the following: episodic or continuous abdominalpain that does not occur solely during physiologic events (eg, eating, menses),insufficient criteria for irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, or abdominalmigraine, the abdominal pain cannot be fully explained by another medical condition)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Under 6 and over 17 years old

• Having a specific restrictive diet to treat allergies or a specific chronic disease -Any history of abdominal surgeries

• Any history of chronic physiological GI disorders such as celiac, inflammatory boweldisease, eosinophilic esophagitis.

• Any chronic condition that may impact GI function such as thyroid disease, cysticfibrosis, or cardiac abnormalities