Autism is a developmental disorder that is usually first diagnosed in childhood. When a child does not develop as expected for a child of that age, concerns often lead parents to seek intervention. Symptoms of autism include difficulties with language or communication, difficulties with social interaction with adults and peers, and unusual or stereotyped behaviors such as circumscribed interests or repetitive behaviors. Treatments for autism range from behavioral therapy to dietary interventions. One such dietary intervention, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), is based on the assumption that children with autism have underlying problems in their gastrointestinal tract, which contribute to their symptoms.
Gastrointestinal Problems in Autism
Elaine Gottschall, a biologist, described the connection between gastrointestinal difficulties and the symptoms of autism. She reports that research in general demonstrates that difficulties in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to neurological symptoms, and that children with autism often show gastrointestinal problems including constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain. This has been linked to difficulties in digesting certain foods, such as the proteins found in wheat and dairy products, gluten and casein. She proposes that certain foods are not properly digested in the gastrointestinal system, leading to a buildup of bacteria, which can then cause the behavioral problems seen in autism. She suggests that the use of a strict dietary intervention, which she had termed the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, can help to minimize symptoms and heal the gastrointestinal tract.
Science Behind the Specific Carbohydrate Diet
Although originally proposed for treating irritable bowel disease, Elaine Gottschall described the use of the SCD diet with autism to help minimize neurological and behavioral symptoms by removing bacteria from the intestines. The science of the diet suggests that carbohydrates that cannot be digested remain in the intestines and ferment, leading to a buildup of bacteria. These undigested proteins and toxins can enter the blood, travel into the brain and interfere with the brain's transmission to the body, leading to neurological or behavioral symptoms. The diet proposes to remove those complex carbohydrates that are feeding the bacteria.
Components of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet
The SCD diet removes complex carbohydrates, which include sucrose, lactose, maltose, and isomaltose. Most starches and sugars are removed from the diet. Foods that are allowed include fresh or frozen vegetables, beans, unprocessed meats, honey, fruit, natural cheeses such as Swiss and cheddar, olive oil, weak tea or coffee and vinegar. Allowed foods include natural, unprocessed products that can be easily digested or absorbed and introduce no complex carbohydrates to the body. Foods that cannot be consumed while on this diet include processed sugars including corn syrup and molasses, canned meats and vegetables, bread, pasta, milk, yogurt, cheese high in lactose such as mozzarella and cream cheese and mayonnaise. Information on starting the diet can be obtained from Elaine Gottschall's book, "Breaking the Vicious Cycle, Intestinal Health through Diet."
Success of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet
According to the Talk About Curing Autism website, the SCD Diet has numerous anecdotal reports of success. They suggest an 80 to 85 percent success rate. Parent testimonials show considerable praise for the diet in helping to reduce the behavioral symptoms of autism. The SCD diet website also reports from doctors that the diet is effective with children with autism. Dr. Sidney Baker, a leader in the Defeat Autism Now (DAN) organization, praises the diet as the most successful treatment he has found for its treatment. However, these reports of success should be heard with caution. While research data has shown the diet to be effective in treating gastrointestinal diseases, no research has proven the diet to be effective in minimizing the symptoms of autism. The evidence thus far has been anecdotal in nature.
