Can a Diet Free of Gluten/Casein Improve Autism Symptoms?
Some individuals within the autism community have suspected that food additives and diet have negatively affected children who have a developmental disorder characterized by communication and social deficits. The term autism diet or GFCF refers to a diet that is free of products that contain gluten, which is a protein composite found in grains such as rye, wheat and barley as well as casein, which is a protein found in milk. For years this special diet has been used as an alternative treatment for children with autism; however, according to a recent study, an autism diet does not improve the symptoms or behaviors related to any of the autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Furthermore, researchers …show more content…
The Participants
Although researchers started with 22 participants, persuading families to get involved was challenging and several families discontinued participating in the study because their children were unhappy with the diet; however, there were 14 participants who completed the study, their ages ranged between 3 to 5 years. Throughout the study, the participants’ families worked with a registered dietician to ensure the children received adequate nutrition while they were on the gluten and casein free diet. This study lasted for 30 weeks.
The Autism Diet is Implemented
For the initial four to six weeks parents implemented a gluten-free/casein-free diet and a behavioral intervention program.
The Weekly Food Challenge – Blinded Distribution
Once the children became accustomed to their new diets, they were challenged with a food that contained casein, gluten, both casein and gluten or just a placebo. Throughout this study, none of the parents, administrating researchers or children knew which children received an actual food challenge or a placebo. This food challenge was performed every week for a total of 12 weeks.
Creating The …show more content…
Documentation
Once training was complete, each participant’s caregiver was asked to keep track of everything the participant consumed for the following three days. The documented information needed to include nutritional supplements (their brand names), pictures of food labels and any recipes used to prepare food.
The Results
Upon examining the participants’ eating records, investigators realized that when compared to typically developing children, the children with ASD consumed similar amounts of micronutrients. Furthermore, both groups of children had deficits in vitamins D and E as well as potassium, calcium and choline. While it is true that children with an autism spectrum disorder receive supplements more frequently than children within the general population, even after receiving supplements, 30 to 40 percent of the children with ASD were lacking vitamin D and anywhere from 40 to 55 percent were lacking calcium.
The
Some individuals within the autism community have suspected that food additives and diet have negatively affected children who have a developmental disorder characterized by communication and social deficits. The term autism diet or GFCF refers to a diet that is free of products that contain gluten, which is a protein composite found in grains such as rye, wheat and barley as well as casein, which is a protein found in milk. For years this special diet has been used as an alternative treatment for children with autism; however, according to a recent study, an autism diet does not improve the symptoms or behaviors related to any of the autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Furthermore, researchers …show more content…
The Participants
Although researchers started with 22 participants, persuading families to get involved was challenging and several families discontinued participating in the study because their children were unhappy with the diet; however, there were 14 participants who completed the study, their ages ranged between 3 to 5 years. Throughout the study, the participants’ families worked with a registered dietician to ensure the children received adequate nutrition while they were on the gluten and casein free diet. This study lasted for 30 weeks.
The Autism Diet is Implemented
For the initial four to six weeks parents implemented a gluten-free/casein-free diet and a behavioral intervention program.
The Weekly Food Challenge – Blinded Distribution
Once the children became accustomed to their new diets, they were challenged with a food that contained casein, gluten, both casein and gluten or just a placebo. Throughout this study, none of the parents, administrating researchers or children knew which children received an actual food challenge or a placebo. This food challenge was performed every week for a total of 12 weeks.
Creating The …show more content…
Documentation
Once training was complete, each participant’s caregiver was asked to keep track of everything the participant consumed for the following three days. The documented information needed to include nutritional supplements (their brand names), pictures of food labels and any recipes used to prepare food.
The Results
Upon examining the participants’ eating records, investigators realized that when compared to typically developing children, the children with ASD consumed similar amounts of micronutrients. Furthermore, both groups of children had deficits in vitamins D and E as well as potassium, calcium and choline. While it is true that children with an autism spectrum disorder receive supplements more frequently than children within the general population, even after receiving supplements, 30 to 40 percent of the children with ASD were lacking vitamin D and anywhere from 40 to 55 percent were lacking calcium.
The