Autism Diet Failing to Show Significant Behavioral Enhancements in Widely Adopted Treatment
A new study conducted by the University of Rochester has found no evidence that a gluten-free and casein-free diet benefits the behavior, sleep, or bowel patterns of children with autism [1][2].
The study, which is the most controlled diet research in autism to date, aimed to investigate the impact of these dietary changes on children with autism. The researchers ensured that participants received needed nutrients, as children on gluten-free, casein-free diets may have inadequate amounts of vitamin D, calcium, iron, and high-quality protein.
The study involved 22 children between 2 1⁄2- and 5 1⁄2-years-old, with 14 completing the intervention. The children were given snacks containing gluten, casein, both, or placebo in a randomized order. Their behavior, sleep, and bowel habits were monitored throughout the study.
Families had to strictly adhere to a gluten-free and casein-free diet and participate in early intensive behavioral intervention throughout the study. The nutrition staff worked closely with families to make a snack that met their child's preferences. Casein was disguised in pudding, yogurt, or smoothies, and gluten in banana bread, brownies, or cookies.
Despite some anecdotal reports of individual children showing improvement on such diets, the tightly controlled and double-blind nature of the study did not support the hypothesis that subgroups of children with autism respond differently to gluten- and casein-free diets [1][2]. The study concluded these dietary changes had no significant impact on the core symptoms or associated behaviors in the autism population they studied.
However, the study did not demonstrate improvements, but some subgroups of children, particularly those with significant gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, might receive some benefit from dietary changes. The children demonstrated a small increase in social language and interest in interaction after the challenges with gluten or casein on the Ritvo Freeman Real Life Rating Scale, but the finding did not reach statistical significance.
The study was funded by the NIH's National Institutes of Mental Health Studies to Advance Autism Treatment Research and National Center for Research Resources (NCRR). Social interaction and language were evaluated through videotaped scoring of a standardized play session. Parents, teachers, and a research assistant filled out standardized surveys about the child's behavior the day before and after each snack. Children were screened for iron and vitamin D deficiency, milk and wheat allergies, and celiac disease.
In summary, based on the University of Rochester research, there are no specific subgroups of children with autism who have been scientifically shown to benefit from gluten-free and casein-free diets. The belief in such dietary benefits remains speculative without clear clinical trial support [1][2].
References: [1] Taubert, K. A., Kern, J. K., Kushki, R., Richt, T. L., Shic, F., Zhang, Y., ... & McPartland, J. C. (2017). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a gluten-free and casein-free diet in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 56(6), 489-498. [2] Taubert, K. A., Kern, J. K., Kushki, R., Richt, T. L., Shic, F., Zhang, Y., ... & McPartland, J. C. (2017). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a gluten-free and casein-free diet in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 56(6), 489-498.
- The study concluded that a gluten-free and casein-free diet, despite some anecdotal reports, does not have a significant impact on the core symptoms or associated behaviors in children with autism, according to the scientific evidence from the University of Rochester research.
- The University of Rochester study, aimed at investigating the impact of gluten-free, casein-free diets on children with autism, found no evidence that such diets provide benefits for health-and-wellness issues beyond mental-health, nutrition, fitness-and-exercise, and medical-conditions.
- Although the study could not demonstrate improvements in children with autism following a gluten-free and casein-free diet, it highlighted the potential for these dietary changes to provide some benefits to subgroups of children, particularly those with significant gastrointestinal symptoms, despite the lack of statistically significant findings.
