Water-based training in combined with vitamin D supplementation improves lipid profile in children with ASD

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of aquatic exercise training, vitamin D supplementation, and their combination on the lipid profile of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). METHODS: We recruited 40 children with ASD (aged 6–14) and assigned them to the aquatic exercise (n = 10), supplementation (n = 10), aquatic exercise + supplementation (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups. Participants in the aquatic exercise group performed water-based activities for 10 weeks (two 60-min sessions per week), those of the supplementation group received orally 50,000 IU vitamin D3/ week, the combined group received exercise + supplementation, and the control group underwent no intervention. We assessed the participants’ serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, body mass index (BMI), and waist to hip ratio (WHR) at the baseline and the end of the 10 weeks. RESULTS: Results revealed that all three Interventional approaches improved lipid profile; whereas interestingly, only aquatic and combined interventions significantly influenced BMI and WHR. CONCLUSION: We concluded that both aquatic exercise and vitamin D supplementation could lead to significant improvement in lipid profile in children with ASD.