Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Trials

Find Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Trials Near You

A Clinical Trial of the Exploradores de Sabores Intervention to Improve Food Variety and Nutritional Status in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Behavioral, Other
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

The goal of this randomized, single-blind clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Exploradores de Sabores parent-mediated nutrition intervention in reducing food selectivity and improving dietary variety, mealtime behaviors, nutritional status, and gastrointestinal symptoms among children aged 4 to 11 years with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The intervention consists of a standardized 15-week parent training program that combines nutrition education, behavioral feeding strategies, sensory-based approaches, and structured food exposure activities implemented by caregivers at home. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the Exploradores de Sabores intervention improve food selectivity and dietary variety in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder compared with Education as Usual (EAU)? * Does the intervention improve mealtime behaviors, nutritional status, and gastrointestinal symptoms compared with Education as Usual (EAU)? Researchers will compare participants assigned to the Exploradores de Sabores intervention with those receiving Education as Usual (EAU) to determine whether the intervention results in greater improvements in food selectivity, dietary variety, mealtime behaviors, nutritional status, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Participants will: * Complete study assessments at baseline and immediately after completion of the 15-week intervention. * Be randomly assigned to either the Exploradores de Sabores intervention or the Education as Usual (EAU) control group. * If assigned to the intervention group, caregivers will participate in a standardized 15-week parent training program and implement structured home-based feeding activities using the intervention manual and educational materials. * If assigned to the Education as Usual (EAU) control group, caregivers will receive 15-week parent training in general recomendations that include healthy meal planning, hydration, and general guidance for promoting balanced eating habits. Children will undergo assessments of food selectivity, dietary variety, mealtime behaviors, nutritional status, and gastrointestinal symptoms at each study visit.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 4
Maximum Age: 11
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) requiring support levels 1, 2, or 3, without cognitive impairment.

• Primary caregivers with sufficient availability to participate in and implement the intervention.

• Children with or without mild functional gastrointestinal symptoms.

• Children experiencing difficulties with the introduction or acceptance of new foods.

• Children with clinically significant food selectivity, as determined by AUT-EAT

• Children with malnutrition.

Locations
Other Locations
Mexico
Facultad de Medicina y Psicología, UABC
RECRUITING
Tijuana
Contact Information
Primary
Connie Johame López Verdugo, PHD. Candidate
lopez.connie@uabc.edu.mx
+526642588810
Time Frame
Start Date: 2026-08
Estimated Completion Date: 2027-07
Participants
Target number of participants: 72
Treatments
Experimental: Exploradores de Sabores
Children aged 4-11 years with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who present food selectivity. Their parents or primary caregivers will participate in the Exploradores de Sabores parent-mediated nutrition intervention. The intervention consists of a standardized 15-week parent training program including nutrition education, behavioral feeding strategies, sensory-based approaches, and structured home-based food exposure activities.
Active_comparator: Education as Usual (EAU)
Children aged 4-11 years with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and food selectivity whose parents or primary caregivers will continue receiving education and healthcare services as usual throughout the study. Participants will not receive the Exploradores de Sabores intervention but will continue receiving Education as Usual (EAU) throughout the study.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: Universidad Autonoma de Baja California

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov