- Diet Matters (5)
- Genetic (1)
- Minerals (1)
- Pesticides (1)
- Uncategorized (8)
- 15. September 2011: Regular Breakfast and Blood Lead Levels among Preschool Children
- 14. July 2011: Drumstick Vegetable
- 14. June 2011: curry leaves and cheap mouthwash
- 14. June 2011: Chemomodulatory action of curry leaf (Murraya koenigii) extract on hepatic and extrahepatic xenobiotic metabolising enzymes, antioxidant levels, lipid peroxidation, skin and forestomach papillomagenesis
- 28. February 2011: Markers of gluten sensitivity and celiac disease in recent-onset psychosis and multi-episode schizophrenia
- 6. February 2011: A genetic variant that disrupts MET transcription is associated with autism
- 5. February 2011: Elimination diets in autism spectrum disorders: any wheat amidst the chaff?
- 5. February 2011: Can the pathophysiology of autism be explained by the nature of the discovered urine peptides?
- 5. February 2011: Diets for autistic spectrum disorder
- 30. January 2011: Gluten In The Diet May Be The Cause Of Recurring Headaches
Diets for autistic spectrum disorder
Gluten and casein free diets for autistic spectrum disorder
Millward C, Ferriter M, Calver S, Connell-Jones G.
Update in:
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that peptides from gluten and casein may have a role in the origins of autism and that the physiology and psychology of autism might be explained by excessive opioid activity linked to these peptides. Research has reported abnormal levels of peptides in the urine and cerebrospinal fluid of persons with autism. If this is the case, diets free of gluten and /or casein should reduce the symptoms associated with autism.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of gluten- and/or casein- free diets as an intervention to improve behaviour, cognitive and social functioning in individuals with autism.
SEARCH STRATEGY: Electronic searching of abstracts from the Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2003), PsycINFO (1971- May 2003), EMBASE (1974- May 2003), CINAHL (1982- May 2003), MEDLINE (1986- May 2003), ERIC (1965-2003), LILACS (to 2003) and the specialist register of the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field (January 2004). Review bibliographies were also examined to identify potential trials.
SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials involving programmes which eliminated gluten, casein or both gluten and casein from the diets of individuals diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Abstracts of studies identified in searches of electronic databases were read and assessed to determine whether they might meet the inclusion criteria. The authors independently selected the relevant studies from the reports identified in this way. As only one trial fitted the inclusion criteria, no meta-analysis is currently possible and data are presented in narrative form.
MAIN RESULTS: The one trial included reported results on four outcomes. Unsurprisingly in such a small-scale study, the results for three of these outcomes (cognitive skills, linguistic ability and motor ability) had wide confidence intervals that spanned the line of nil effect. However, the fourth outcome, reduction in autistic traits, reported a significant beneficial treatment effect for the combined gluten- and casein- free diet.
REVIEWERS’ CONCLUSIONS: This is an important area of investigation and large scale, good quality randomised controlled trials are needed.