Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Gluten- and Casein-Free Diets for Autistic Spectrum Disorder

scottie — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:49:12 +0000

Title	Gluten- and Casein-Free Diets for Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Millward C, Ferriter M, Calver S, ConnellJones G
Journal Title	Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
Year of Publication	2004
Volume	2
Pages	CD003498
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15106205&query_hl=11&itool=pubmed_docsum
Full Text	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

scottie — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 19:21:17 +0000

Title	A Gluten-Free Diet as an Intervention for Autism and Associated Spectrum Disorders: Preliminary Findings
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Whiteley P, Rodgers J, Savery D, Shattock P
Journal Title	Autism
Year of Publication	1999
Volume	3
Issue	1
Pages	45-65
URL for Abstract	http://aut.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/3/1/45
Full Text	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

scottie — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 19:06:15 +0000

Title	Gluten and Casein Free Diets in Autism: A Study of the Effects on Food Choice and Nutrition
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Cornish E
Journal Title	J Hum Nutr Diet.
Year of Publication	2002
Volume	15
Issue	4
Pages	261-269
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12153499&query_hl=27&itool=pubmed_docsum
Full Text	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

scottie — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 19:02:19 +0000

Title	Food Allergy and Infantile Autism
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Lucarelli S, Frediani T, Zingoni AM, Ferruzzi F, Giardini O, Quintieri F, Barbato M, DEufemia P, Cardi E
Journal Title	Panminerva Med.
Year of Publication	1995
Volume	37
Issue	3
Pages	137-141
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=8869369&query_hl=23&itool=pubmed_docsum
Full Text	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.

The Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet in Autism: Results of a Preliminary Double Blind Clinical Trial

scottie — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:58:29 +0000

Title	The Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet in Autism: Results of a Preliminary Double Blind Clinical Trial
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Elder JH, Shankar M, Shuster J, Theriaque D, Burns S, Sherrill L
Journal Title	Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Year of Publication	2006
Volume	36
Pages	413-420
URL for Abstract	http://www.springerlink.com/content/8575wx07436024k5/
Full Text	This article describes a well-controlled research study showing that some children with autism do not benefit from a casein- and gluten-free diet within a 6-week period. The purpose of this study was to test whether a casein- and gluten-free diet can help improve the behavior of children with autism. The study focused on 13 children with autism (2-16 years old). Children were placed on gluten- and casein-free diets for six weeks and on their regular diets (including gluten and casein) for six weeks. There were no significant changes in behavior during this time. The authors conclude that future studies should extend the diet treatment time.

A Randomised, Controlled Study of Dietary Intervention in Autistic Syndromes

scottie — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:51:29 +0000

Title	A Randomised, Controlled Study of Dietary Intervention in Autistic Syndromes
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Knivsberg AM, Reichelt KL, Hoien T, Nodland M
Journal Title	Nutr Neurosci.
Year of Publication	2002
Volume	5
Issue	4
Pages	251-261
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12168688&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum
Full Text	This article describes a well-controlled research study showing that some children with autism can benefit from a casein- and gluten-free diet. Several researchers have proposed that children with autism may have unusual behavior because they donâ??t digest grains or dairy products properly. Their intestines may leak protein by-products into their systems, and these by-products may act like a drug in their brains. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an elimination diet could help improve the behavior of children with autism who have unusual protein by-products in their urine. The study focused on twenty children with autism (5-11 years old) with abnormal protein by-products in their urine. Ten of these children were put on a strict gluten- and casein-free diet for 12 months, and the remaining children were given a control diet, which included both grain and milk products. Observers who did not know the diets of each child rated the childrenâ??s behavior. Significant improvements from before to after the 12 months were found in the diet group, but not in the control group. These improvements included: reduction in attention problems, increase in cognitive ability, and improvements in social, emotional, and communication skills.

ß-Casomorphin Induces Fos-Like Immunoreactivity in Discrete Brain Regions Relevant to Schizophrenia and Autism

scottie — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:27:01 +0000

Title	ß-Casomorphin Induces Fos-Like Immunoreactivity in Discrete Brain Regions Relevant to Schizophrenia and Autism
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Sun Z, Cade JR, Fregly MJ, Privette RM
Journal Title	Autism
Year of Publication	1999
Volume	3
Issue	1
Pages	67-83
URL for Abstract	http://aut.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/3/1/67
Full Text	This article concludes that casomorphine, a by-product of milk digestion, can affect brain areas that are involved in schizophrenia and autism. The authors outline the evidence that autism and schizophrenia can be explained by high levels of casomorphine in individuals with either disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine the brain areas that are influenced by casomorphine. Rats were injected with one form of casomorphine, and their brains were examined to see which areas were activated, as compared to rats that didnâ??t receive the casomorphine. The results show that the brain regions that were activated by casomorphine were also among those that are affected in people with schizophrenia or autism.

Autism and Gastrointestinal Symptoms

scottie — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:51:56 +0000

Title	Autism and Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Horvath K, Perman JA
Journal Title	Curr Gastroenterol Rep.
Year of Publication	2002
Volume	4
Issue	3
Pages	251-258
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12010627&query_hl=13&itool=pubmed_docsum
Full Text	This article outlines the research showing that children with autism have problems with digestion, and that treating these problems can improve the symptoms of autism. The authors describe a large number of studies showing that children with autism have more problems with digestion than other children. These problems include gas, constipation, bloating, and â??tummy aches.â? More serious problems include swelling and inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Further, many children with autism even without symptoms of digestive problems, have more â??leakyâ? intestines than normal. This means that the by-products of digestion can move into the bloodstream, even when they are supposed to be excreted as waste. The authors then outline the theory that by-products made from grain and milk proteins can leak into the rest of the body, affecting the brain and behavior much like a drug would. However, while there is some evidence that gluten- and casein-free diets can help improve the behavior of children with autism, the authors suggest that it is not strong.

Elimination Diets in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Any Wheat Amidst the Chaff?

scottie — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:43:57 +0000

Title	Elimination Diets in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Any Wheat Amidst the Chaff?
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Christison GW, Ivany K
Journal Title	J Dev Behav Pediatr.
Year of Publication	2006
Volume	27
Issue	2(Suppl)
Pages	S162-S171
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16685183&query_hl=7&itool=pubmed_docsum
Full Text	This article outlines the research on whether elimination diets are effective for children with autism, and concludes that there may be some evidence of the effectiveness of a diet that is free from both casein and gluten, but that more research must be done. First, the authors describe the theories behind elimination diets. The most common theory is that children with autism create protein by-products that "leak" from the gut into the rest of the body. Known as gluteomorphines and casomorphines, these protein by-products may have negative influences on the behavior and thinking of some children with autism. The authors review seven studies (published between 1990 and 2002) of the effectiveness of casein- and/or gluten-free diets. All of these studies suggested that gluten- and/or casein- free diets can improve the behavior of children with autism, but all of them had problems with their designs. The study with the best design (Knivsberg et al. 2002) showed that after a year of treatment with a gluten- and casein-free diet, children improved on several measures of autistic behavior.

Can the Pathophysiology of Autism be Explained by the Nature of the Discovered Urine Peptides?

scottie — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:40:19 +0000

Title	Can the Pathophysiology of Autism be Explained by the Nature of the Discovered Urine Peptides?
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Reichelt KL, Knivsberg AM
Journal Title	Nutr Neurosci.
Year of Publication	2003
Volume	6
Issue	1
Pages	19-28
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12608733&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum
Full Text	This article describes how gluten and casein elimination diets may help children with autism. The author describes the evidence showing that children with autism may have digestive systems that do not work properly. As a result, small bits of protein by-products may leak from their intestines into their bloodstream. Some of these by-products are called casomorphines (from dairy products) and gluteomorphines (from oats, barley, rye, and wheat products). They may act like a drug, affecting behavior and the brain. The author lists some of the symptoms common among children with autism and describes how these by-products could cause these symptoms. These symptoms include: stereotyped behavior, lack of social involvement, epilepsy, self-destructive or pain-inflicting behavior, immune system problems, and sleep problems. Finally, research showing the positive effects of gluten and casein elimination diets is described, and the author asserts that these diets may work better for younger children.