Dairy allergies are real, but experts commonly regard the connection between milk allergies and developmental delays as unproven. While the Autism Research Institute promotes a dairy-free diet to overcome autism in some children, researchers from the University of Texas at Austin's Meadows Center Autism Spectrum Disorders Institute warn studies supporting the efficacy of such diets are significantly flawed. Further, research shows children given dairy elimination diets to overcome developmental delays may experience physical impairments.
Casein
Casein is a protein found in milk, cheese and other dairy products, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Dairy-free diets for autism are more accurately referred to as "casein-free" because this protein is the target of elimination. This distinction is significant, because lactose-free products designed for people intolerant of milk sugar are not suitable for individuals on a casein-free diet.
Leaky Gut
The possible connection between milk allergies and autism is based on the "leaky gut" theory. According to Stephen M. Edelson of the Autism Research Institute, it is theorized that milk protein, or casein, passes through damaged or "leaky" intestinal tracts as casomorphin, having a morphine-like effect on the individual and resulting in impaired brain development. Edelson says such intestinal damage may result from exposure to a virus, intestinal yeast overgrowth, insufficient lining of the intestinal tract or heavy metal toxicity.
Diagnosis
The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology says that blood tests can diagnose specific milk allergies, including casein allergy, by identifying antibodies produced in response to milk and dairy exposure. Such blood tests can also determine if the allergy is specific to heated or unheated milk, and can predict the severity of the allergic reaction, according to the academy. Blood tests can diagnose milk allergies without exposing patients to the suspected allergen or subjecting them to months of dairy-free eating and observation.
Treatment
The dominant course of treatment for food allergies is to avoid exposure, according to the U.S. National Guideline Clearinghouse. Eliminating exposure to milk allergens in children with developmental delays is commonly achieved through a casein-free diet which prohibits dairy and foods containing dairy, including lactose-free products. People following a casein-free diet must be aware of the ingredients in all foods they consume, because the protein can be found in breads, snacks and other foods not commonly considered dairy products.
Dangers
Boys following a dairy-free diet had 20 percent thinner bones than typical children, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health and the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Boys diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder who did not follow a dairy-free diet were found to have 10 percent thinner bones. Also, Edelson of the Autism Research Institute warns that a casein-free diet should be implemented slowly to prevent withdrawal symptoms such as behavioral outbursts.
