Gluten Free Diet For Autistic Children

The gluten-free diet for autistic children often helps alleviate both behavioral symptoms and any underlying gastrointestinal complaints, such as diarrhea, constipation or abdominal pain. Despite a lack of medical evidence to prove it works, many parents report success treating their autistic children with the gluten-free diet.

History

Gluten is a protein found in the grains wheat, barley and rye. Parents have used the gluten-free diet to treat their autistic children for nearly two decades, since researchers reported that autistic individuals might not be able to digest gluten properly. The gluten-free diet most often is paired with a diet free of casein, a protein found in milk, to treat autism.

Features

Implementing the gluten-free diet can be hard work for parents. Most mainstream child-favorite foods, such as macaroni and cheese and pizza, are off limits on a gluten-free diet. In addition, gluten can hide in many unexpected places, such as ketchup and soy sauce. Parents whose autistic children are following gluten-free diets must learn to read food labels carefully.

Effects

However, many foods are naturally free of gluten. Fresh fruits and vegetables are considered safe on a gluten-free diet, as are fresh meat, poultry and fish. Many parents find that replacing favorite foods with gluten-free versions is not that difficult, since grocery stores often stock gluten-free mixes and ready-made waffles and pizzas.

Considerations

Pediatricians warn that there's no solid evidence linking any special diet, including the gluten-free diet, to either digestive or behavioral improvements in autistic children. In a consensus statement published in 2010 in the medical journal "Pediatrics," an expert panel reported that research hasn't been done to determine if gastrointestinal disorders are more common in autistic children. The experts noted that pain from undiagnosed digestive disorders potentially could cause autistic behavior.

Benefits

Some parents report large developmental gains in their autistic children after adopting the gluten-free diet. In a survey by the Autism Research Institute, 51% out of 3,774 children who tried the gluten-free diet improved while following it. Parents say that autistic children must follow the diet strictly and for at least three months in order to determine if it is helping.