Parents whose children have autism often try the "no-wheat, no-milk" diet to alleviate symptoms such as tantrums, aggressive behavior and hyperactivity. Although no large medical study has found the no-wheat, no-milk diet works to treat autism, many parents surveyed by the GFCF Diet Support Group report good results.
History
The no-wheat, no-milk diet, also known as the gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet, has been around for about 20 years, since researchers speculated that autistic individuals might lack the ability to properly digest the types of protein found in wheat (known as gluten) and milk (known as casein). The original research, performed in 1991 by Dr. Kalle Reichelt of the University of Oslo in Norway, found abnormal opioid peptides in the urine of autistic children that appeared to result from improper breakdown of gluten and casein. Dr. Reichelt hypothesized that avoiding foods with gluten and casein would eliminate those peptides and might curb autistic behaviors. Children following the no-wheat, no-milk diet avoid foods containing gluten and casein.
Features
The no-wheat, no-milk diet places off-limits a wide variety of foods that children often eat. Children following the diet cannot consume mainstream products such as fast-food hamburgers, pizza, or macaroni and cheese. In addition, wheat and milk often hide in unexpected places, such as soy sauce or salad dressing. But foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and rice are all allowed on the no-wheat, no-milk diet.
Benefits
Parents of autistic children following the no-wheat, no-milk diet often report gains in their offspring. According to a survey by the GFCF Diet Support Group, 11.5 percent saw dramatic improvement, and 29.5 percent saw very good improvement following the diet, while 27 percent saw good improvement, and 22.6 percent saw moderate improvement. Less than 10 percent failed to improve or regressed while on the diet.
Considerations
The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) notes that there's little solid evidence indicating whether the no-wheat, no-milk diet truly is effective in treating autism. Many pediatricians don't support the use of special diets in autism, although there are some developmental pediatricians following the Defeat Autism Now! (DAN) protocol, which encourages special diets to treat autism.
Warning
Parents may find it difficult to keep their children on the no-wheat, no-milk diet, especially if the rest of the family doesn't follow it. Substitutes for a child's favorite foods can be expensive and sometimes difficult to find, and an autistic child might not like the taste of the substitute food. Families may also face challenges when eating out, because few restaurant foods are acceptable on the no-wheat, no-milk diet.
