The latest report issued by the National Institutes of Health estimates that one in 1,000 children have an autism-spectrum disorder. Parents of autistic children face myriad treatment options, from tried-and-true behavioral training programs to more fringe modalities that may do more harm than good. Fortunately, the scientific community has spent considerable effort sorting fact from fiction in the claims for various interventions, such as restricting or eliminating casein from a child's diet.
What is Casein?
Casein refers to a protein in dairy and milk products. People who eat dairy products like cheese and yogurt ingest casein proteins as part of their diets. Some plastics and paints also use these proteins in manufacturing. A study published in the "Archives of Allergy Immunology" in 1992 found that casein produces casomorpin, a fragment of protein called a peptide, which releases histamines in humans.
The Casein-Autism Link
In the 1990s, anecdotal evidence began to surface suggesting that autistic children showed intensified symptoms after consuming foods with high levels of casomorpin. Then, in 1995, a study published in the "Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research" reported marked improvements in the behavioral functioning of autistic children who stopped consuming both gluten and casein. Scientists speculated that because autistic children often experience gastrointestinal problems, gluten and casein could be somehow linked to autism's etiology.
Assessing the Evidence
An extensive review article published in 2002 in the journal "Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice" reported that serious methodological problems called the evidence for a link between casein and autism into question. More boldly, the study explicitly recommended against incorporating diet restrictions into standard autism treatment regimens. Other research, such as study published in 2006 in the "Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics," supports this latter skeptical view --- carefully conducted studies tend not to support the link.
The Bottom Line
Consult with your primary care provider and licensed professionals who specialize in treating autism-spectrum disorders to receive the best possible care. Dietary restrictions offer a tempting solution to an emotionally tolling and difficult disorder, but the preponderance of evidence says that your best bet is to stick with the tried and true methods until science uncovers and validates a new approach.
References
- "Autism: What We Know;" National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2007
- "International Archives of Allergy Immunology"; A naturally occurring opioid peptide from cow's milk, beta-casomorphine-7, is a direct histamine releaser in man; M Kurek et al.; 1992
- "Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research"; Autistic syndromes and diet: A follow-up study; Knivsberg et al.; 1995
- "The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice"; Separating Fact from Fiction in the Etiology and Treatment of Autism; Spring 2002
- "Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics"; Elimination diets in autism spectrum disorders: any wheat amidst the chaff?; GW Christison, & K Ivany; 2006
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