Article Figures & Data
Tables
Characteristic No CAM Usagea Any CAM Usage Total Age, y 2–5 1274 (56) 514 (57) 1788 6–11 765 (34) 297 (33) 1062 12–18 238 (10) 85 (9) 323 Gender Male 1924 (85) 747 (83) 2671 Female 353 (15) 149 (17) 502 ASD Autism 1481 (65) 633 (71) 2114 Asperger’s 215 (9) 74 (8) 289 PDD-NOS 581 (26) 189 (21) 770 Caregiver(s)’ highest level of education High school graduate or less 360 (17) 69 (8) 429 Some college 619 (29) 197 (23) 816 College graduate 598 (28) 311 (36) 909 Postgraduate work 573 (27) 275 (32) 848 Missing — — 171 Race White 1738 (76) 732 (82) 2470 Black/African American 195 (9) 31 (3) 226 Asian 116 (5) 46 (5) 162 Other 228 (10) 87 (10) 315 Ethnicity Hispanic or Latino origin 243 (11) 64 (7) 307 Not of Hispanic or Latino origin 1984 (89) 811 (93) 2795 Missing — — 71 Parent-reported GI problems No 1151 (52) 305 (35) 1456 Yes 1064 (48) 568 (65) 1632 Missing — — 85 Parent-reported sleep problems as measured by using the CSHQ (age <11 y) No 566 (33) 219 (31) 924 Yes 1156 (67) 477 (69) 1882 Missing — — 367 CBCL internalizing t score <70 1632 (76) 602 (71) 2234 ≥70 523 (24) 249 (29) 772 CBCL externalizing t score <70 1796 (83) 688 (81) 2484 ≥70 359 (17) 163 (19) 522 CBCL total score <70 1488 (69) 538 (63) 2026 ≥70 667 (31) 313 (37) 980 Missing CBCL data — — 167 Parent-reported history of seizures No 1916 (85) 678 (76) 2594 Yes 336 (15) 206 (24) 545 Missing 34 Reported psychotropic medication usage No 1387 (73) 547 (73) 1934 Yes 516 (27) 206 (27) 722 Missing — — 517 Data are presented as number (%).
↵a Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Characteristic N Any CAM 896 Special diets 548 Gluten-free diet 249 Casein-free diet 289 No processed sugars 69 No sugars or salicylates 28 Feingold diet 14 Other specified special diet 293 Other CAM 643 Other vitamin supplements 413 Probiotics 274 Essential fatty acids 171 Digestive enzymes 116 Higher dosing vitamin B6 and magnesium 99 Chiropractic 77 Amino acids 59 Antifungals 58 Glutathione 33 Chelation 19 Hyperbaric oxygen 12 Acupuncture 10 Sulfation 7 Other specified CAM 173 - TABLE 3
Associations (ORs) Between Use of Any CAM and Subgroup Categories of Special Diets and “Other” CAM
Factor Exposure Any CAM (n = 896) Special Diets (n= 548)a Other CAM (n = 643)a A Versus B Gender Male Female 0.92 0.96 0.88 ASD Asperger’s Autism 0.81* 0.51* 0.91 PDD-NOS Autism 0.76* 0.70* 0.77* Parent-reported GI problems Yes No 2.01* 2.46* 1.91* Parent-reported sleep problems as measured by using the CSHQ Yes No 1.07 1.08 0.96 Parent-reported history of seizures Yes No 1.76* 2.16* 1.71* CBCL internalizing T score Yes No 1.29* 1.39* 1.19* CBCL externalizing T score Yes No 1.19* 1.29* 1.01 CBCL total score Yes No 1.30* 1.42* 1.14* Reported psychotropic medication usage Yes No 1.01 0.79* 1.14 - TABLE 4
Multivariable Associations (ORs) Between Use of Any CAM, Special Diets, or Other CAM
Factor Exposure Any CAMa (n = 896) Special Dietsa,b (n = 548) Other CAMa,b (n = 643) A Versus B ASD Asperger’s Autism 0.62 (0.46–0.84) 0.44 (0.28–0.69) 0.72 (0.52–1.00) PDD-NOS Autism 0.66 (0.54–0.82) 0.65 (0.49–0.85) 0.67 (0.53–0.84) Parent-reported GI problems Yes No 1.88 (1.57–2.25) 2.38 (1.86–3.05) 1.82 (1.50–2.22) CBCL total score Yes No 1.29 (1.06–1.56) 1.34 (1.04–1.72) NSc Parent-reported history of seizures Yes No 1.58 (1.27–1.96) 1.97 (1.50–2.59) 1.66 (1.30–2.10) Reported psychotropic medication usage Yes No NSc 0.69 (0.52–0.91) NSc