A gluten-free, casein-free, or GFCF, diet, is a type of nutritionally restricted diet that is recommended for children with autism by the Autism Research Institute. Autism is a developmental condition that affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. While the role of nutrition remains unclear, GFCF diets appear to be beneficial for children with autism. They require the removal of all dairy products like milk and cheese, and all gluten products like foods containing wheat. Maintaining a GFCF diet is difficult, because many foods may have hidden gluten in them, and such diets may have some negative effects on children as well, including weight gain, increased risk of vitamin deficiencies, nutrient withdrawal, and constipation.
Weight Gain
Many autistic children have trouble absorbing nutrients due to a low tolerance for gluten and casein. The presence of gluten and casein in the child's diet can damage the villi that line the small intestine, thereby blocking the uptake of other nutrients, such as calories, in food. As a result, some autistic children who are not on the GFCF diet may appear to be underweight or malnourished. Once casein and gluten are removed from an autistic child's diet, the villi in the small intestine will repair themselves and resume absorbing calories. This sudden increase in the absorption of calories can lead to rapid weight gain.
Vitamin Deficiencies
The GFCF diet can be very restrictive. Many foods, particularly processed foods, contain wheat and dairy extracts for taste or texture. This can limit the ability of a child with autism to eat a wide variety of foods that help expose him to a wide range of healthy vitamins and minerals. Children on a restricted diet, such as the GFCF diet, are more likely to have a vitamin and mineral deficiency. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies have a wide range of side effects, depending on which compounds are absent from the diet. To reduce the risk of deficiencies, vitamin and mineral nutritional supplements are recommended to make up what your child may be lacking in her diet.
Nutrient Withdrawal
Some children with autism may experience nutrient withdrawal when changing from a normal diet to a GFCF diet. Nutrient withdrawal may actually make some of the effects of autism worse, including violent acts, anger, and tantrums. Gluten and casein are broken down similarly to opiate-like compounds in the body, particularly gluteomorphin and casomorphin. As a result, it is not uncommon for a autistic child to have withdrawals or even become sick when giving up wheat and milk products. To avoid nutrient withdrawal, gluten and casein should be removed from the diet gradually.
Constipation
GFCF diets may lead to chronic constipation in autistic children, which can be both painful and uncomfortable and may increase irritability. Many GFCF diets are low in fiber, because many fiber-rich foods also contain wheat, such as whole grains, breads, pasta, and cereals. Eating a balanced GFCF diet that contains plenty of fibrous vegetables, such as broccoli and cabbage, as well as high-fiber fruits like apples and bananas, may help prevent symptoms of constipation.
References
- Autism Research Institute; Diets
- Autism Web; The GFCF (Gluten-Free, Casein-Free) Diet for Autism Spectrum Disorders
- "Special Diets for Special Kids"; Lisa Lewis and Bernard Rimland; 1998
- GFCF Diet; Frequently Asked Questions
