Autism Therapy: elimination diet

definition of elimination diet: Type of alternative therapy for autism in which particular foods are eliminated from the child’s diet.

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Gluten- and Casein-Free Diets for Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Cochrane Database Syst Rev., by Millward, C., Ferriter M., Calver S., and ConnellJones G., published in 2004, summarized Jan 9, 2009

This article reviews research on whether gluten- and casein-free diets can help improve the behavior and/or health of children with autism, and concludes that, even though there is some evidence that a combined gluten- and casein-free diet can be helpful, more research is necessary.

Some researchers think that the symptoms of autism can be explained by high levels of protein by-products affecting the bodies and brains of children with autism. These by-products are made by the body from the proteins found in grains (gluten) and milk (casein). The purpose of this article is to critically review the research showing that gluten- and casein-free diets help improve the behavior of children with autism. As a result, the authors have very high standards for the types of studies they analyzed, and only one study published between 1965 and 2003 (Knivsberg et al. 2002) was up to the level of these standards. This study showed that a gluten- and casein-free diet helped children with autism improve in several behavioral areas over the course of a year. Because this study only included twenty children, the authors conclude that there is not enough evidence to support elimination diets, but that future research could provide more support for them.


A Gluten-Free Diet as an Intervention for Autism and Associated Spectrum Disorders: Preliminary Findings
Autism, by Whiteley, P., Rodgers J., Savery D., and Shattock P., published in 1999, summarized Nov 14, 2006

Lay Summary:
This article concludes that a gluten-free diet may help improve the behavior of children with autism.

This study focused on 22 children with autism (mean age around 6 years old) who were placed on a gluten-free diet for five months. The behavior of the children was scored by their parents and teachers before, during, and after the five months. There was a significant improvement over the five months in behavior scores from parents, but not in the behavior scores from teachers. After the five months on the diet, one group of the children was given gluten, and the parents of these children reported that their behavior worsened. Moreover, a group of the children on the diet were given an intelligence test before and after being on the diet. These children improved on the test in three of the six areas tested, but children who had been eating gluten did not.


Gluten and Casein Free Diets in Autism: A Study of the Effects on Food Choice and Nutrition
J Hum Nutr Diet., by Cornish, E., published in 2002, summarized Nov 14, 2006

This article concludes that children with autism on casein- and gluten-free diets are receiving approximately the same nutrition as children with autism not on elimination diets.

This study focused on 37 children with autism; 8 were on gluten- and casein-free diets, and 29 were not. The parents of these children completed questionnaires about the diets of their children. The results showed no significant differences between the dietary intakes of the two groups. However, children on the casein- and gluten-free diets were more likely to be deficient in calcium, copper, iron, and zinc. The authors commented that children on the elimination diets ate more fruits and vegetables than the children on non-elimination diets.


Food Allergy and Infantile Autism
Panminerva Med., by Lucarelli, S., Frediani T., Zingoni AM, Ferruzzi F., Giardini O., Quintieri F., Barbato M., DEufemia P., and Cardi E., published in 1995, summarized Nov 14, 2006

This article describes a study showing that improvements in autistic behavior can result from a casein-free diet, in combination with the elimination of foods to which children are allergic.

The study focuses on 36 children with autism (8 to 13 years old). Each child was also tested for food allergies, and each of their diets was adjusted to avoid any foods to which they were allergic. In addition, all 36 children were put on a casein-free diet for 8 weeks. Following the diet, children were given capsules containing extracts of the foods to which they had allergies. Their behavior was rated by observers according to a standard behavioral scale for children with autism. The results show that there were significant improvements on five of seven behavioral measures from before to after the 8-week period. These measures were: autistic isolation, verbal communication disturbances, inappropriate emotional responses, disturbances in feeding behavior, and disturbances in concentration. After children received the food capsules, three behavioral measures worsened significantly, suggesting that food allergies themselves may be at least partly responsible for some autistic behavior.


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