Working in the field of autism as a Celiac is quite interesting. I am on this diet because I have a scientifically proven reason to be on it. There is a trend in parents with Autistic Children to put their children on a Gluten and Casein Free diet to alleviate some of the symptoms of Autism. While this trend makes it easy to stock up on gluten free goodies when I represent my center at fairs or events there is obviously a downside for these children. Unlike for me, there is no scientific basis for this diet choice, as the article I’ve pasted below shows. Unfortunately, people rarely listen to science.
May 20, 2010
Study: Gluten-free diets do not improve autism behavior
Posted: 09:56 AM ET
By Trisha Henry
CNN Medical Producer
Keeping the proteins found in wheat, barley, rye and dairy out of the diets of children with autism does not lead to behavior improvements, new research has found.
While many doctors do not recommend a special diet as an autism therapy, there are widespread reports from families on the internet lauding the success of keeping foods containing gluten and casein out of an autistic child’s diet. Currently, nearly one in three children with autism is given a gluten- and casein-free diet in an effort to reduce symptoms of the neurodevelopmental disease, study authors say.
Actress and activist Jenny McCarthy is one the most vocal parents who claims her son’s autism symptoms improved when she switched his diet.
The cause of autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder that hinders communication and social interaction, is not yet known and there is no cure. While there are a few science-based therapies, which applied early in a child’s development can improve the behavior in some children, for many families finding way to help children can be challenging and lead them to try many unproven treatments.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center in upstate New York put the gluten- and casein-free diet to most stringent test today, according to lead author Dr. Susan Hyman.
They looked at 14 children with autism between the ages of 2½ and 5½ years old – but without celiac disease or allergies to milk and wheat.
First they removed gluten and casein from the children’s diet. After four weeks, the children were randomly given either gluten or casein, both, or a placebo, through a carefully measured snack. Parents, teachers and a research assistants were questioned about the child’s behavior before and after the snack was eaten.
“Under these controlled circumstances we did not find an effect on behavior in response to challenges with gluten and casein in children with autism but without GI disease,” says Hyman.
Parents need to be aware of the potential cost and measure the benefit before they consider trying a new treatment for their child, says IMFAR Program Committee program chair, David Mandell.
Hyman and Mandell both say more studies need to be done looking at the effects of diet and the specific subtypes of autism.
The study is being released this weekend at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Philadelphia.
Autism usually develops by the time a child is 3 years old. An average of 1 in 110 children suffers from some type of an autism spectrum disorder.
Children with autism can have one of several complex neurological disorders, which lead to social impairments, communication difficulties and restrictive and repetitive behaviors. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 1 in 110 children suffers from some type of an autism spectrum disorder.
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This article is from CNN.COM and can be found at http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/20/study-gluten-free-diets-do-not-improve-autism-behavior/
This “study” proves nothing. A single, random exposure in a snack to gluten or casein is not an adequate test of the effects of ongoing day-by-day exposure.
Proves was probably too strong a word to use. However, The effects of ingesting gluten are almost immediate and a 4 week span of time is a good amount of time to omit it and see an effect after consuming it once again. While I personally see a difference when I accidently injest gluten products those differences are very subtle and not as black and white as parents seem to think they are with their Children with ASDs.
I do agree that the single snack is limiting and does not show the long term effects but it is a start to proving or debunking the belief that this diet can ‘cure symptoms’. There is no research behind the diet either and struggling to manage my nutritional needs makes me wonder what these kids are going through.
But there IS research behind the diet. Plus, Parents SEE the difference at home…when given a wheat or dairy snack in school, the children revert to deeper autistic/repetetive behaviors later in the day, AFTER school, and from the casein, and brain inflamation, many get horrible nigh shakes and nighmares and insomnia from the allergy/intolerance. And diarhea.
My guess is, with such a small study of only 14 children, that the re-introduction of the gluten and casein may not have been seen until later that night, at home…and the study may have been conducted without parental knowledge.
I tend to believe the mothers who observe their children everyday, not doctors who see them only for a few minutes. Life is lived in a 24 hour day, not in 15 minute intervals with medical specialists, who only look at slivers of a childs life and symptoms. Most of these kids have terrible gut conditions, including bowell inflamation, leaky gut syndrome, candida albicans infestations, etc. And this DOES show up on tests. It’s just that the way medicine is practiced today, slow and methodical ( one would hope methodical) by the time anything gets reported, someone else negates the results, and meanwhile, kids are growing at lightning speed. The diet shows the most help before the age of four, by which time, the nuerological damage has been hardwired.
And since when has a harmless dietary intervention ever caused so much contention in the medical community as this? Drs routinely reccomend special diets for high blood presure, heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol. But shy away from helping with autism, even when tests demonstrate the aforementioned results.
It just mystifies me.
Sienna, thanks for the comment. I agree that mother’s are more reliable than doctors and also I think that further research is definitely necessary because as you said this study is very limited. I also think though that the benefits of this diet are a case by case thing, as is any response to ‘treatment’. Some children do have an allergy/intolerance to gluten (infact from what I have hear this number is higher for those with ASDS) and I am sure that it benefits them. For some who do not have an issue if the diet is not done well it may cause harm and that is my concern. There are issues with being on a gluten free diet, which my concern is may out weigh a decrease in ASD Symtomology. You miss a lot of nutrients that are found naturally in gluten containing products that can, to my understanding, hinder growth and cause other issues. I know for example that my blood sugar is all over the place because I no longer ingest enough carbs to break down over time into a stable sugar source. If a parent is educated I think it is great to try anything to help your child, however if you are doing it wrong it may cause more harm than good.
I would love to read any research or information you have have on this and thanks again for the comment!