Research summaries for autism therapy: gluten-free casein-free (GFCF)

definition of gluten-free casein-free (GFCF): diet that is both gluten free (GF) and casein free (CF). People following this diet do not eat gluten (found in wheat and other grains) or casein (found in milk and milk products). While there are many products (processed foods) that can be bought to meet the needs of a GFCF diet, the diet can also be accomplished by eating simply prepared protein (eggs, nuts, meat, etc), vegetables (including starchy vegetables such as potatoes) and fruit.
|

Treatment of Food Selectivity in a Young Child with Autism, Summarized Mar 16, 2010

Therapeutic feeding intervention may increase the number and variety of foods eaten by a child with autism.

This case study describes feeding intervention with a five your child with autism who was on the gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) diet. The treatment package focused on four new food items. The boy learned to eat GFCF pizza, GFCF waffle, apple, and french fries. He often said no when asked to try a new food. And at times, he left therapy sessions when hand-over-hand prompts were used.

Read more...

Food Allergy and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Is There a Link?, Summarized Sep 15, 2009

Probiotics may help to relieve gut problems in children with autism.

This review article describes proposed causes of gut problems in children with autism and describes the risks and benefits of treatments. There are a lot of data to support that children with autism have a chronic immune response in their gut. Many parents treat the gut problems with the gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet even though there is not a lot of data to support the use of the diet. While there is some concern that the GFCF diet may not provide all needed vitamins to children, this concern is not backed by data. Treatment with probiotics makes sense, but it has not been proven to work in scientific studies of children with autism.

Read more...

Whey Watchers and Wheat Watchers: The Case against Gluten and Casein in Autism, Summarized Jun 12, 2009

The potential benefits of a gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) diet for children with autism may not be worth the risk of poor nutrition from the restricted diet.

This author states that current studies have not shown consistent benefits of a GFCF diet for many children with autism. However, many parents currently are enthusiastic about the GFCF diet. Nutritionists think that parents should be educated about following the diet. Parents need to make sure they provide children with good overall nutrition, whether on the GFCF diet or not. Read more...

What is the Current Status of Research Concerning Use of Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet for Children Diagnosed with Autism?, Summarized Apr 29, 2009

Food and nutrition professionals can help parents of children with autism by making sure that children on special diets get important nutrients.

This short article was written as a response to a question of the month. The author notes that some parents use diet therapies such as yeast-free diet, gluten free diet, and casein free diet as treatments for autism. The gluten free, casein free diet is known as GFCF diet and is one of the most common autism interventions. The diet can be hard for parents to follow and the food may cost more than the common American diet. Two studies are now being done in Norway and in the United States to see if this diet helps children with autism. Read more...

Showing 1-4 of 7 results

Synonyms for gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) include: casein free gluten free, casein-free gluten-free, CFGF, GFCF, gluten free casein free, gluten-free casein-free
|