About Gluten & Casien Free Diets

Many parents with autistic children report that their children's symptoms improved on the gluten and casein free diet, which eliminates proteins found in milk and some grain products. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns that there's little medical evidence to support the gluten and casein free diet, also known as the GFCF diet (for gluten-free and casein-free), in treating autism.

History

Gluten is a protein found in the grains wheat, barley and rye. Casein, meanwhile, is found in milk and any dairy products containing milk, such as cheese. In 1991, Dr. Kalle Reichelt, a Norwegian researcher, first considered whether a gluten and casein free diet would help in autism when he found abnormal opioid compounds in urine from autistic children. Dr. Reichelt reported that the opioid compounds appeared to stem from improper breakdown of the proteins gluten and casein in autistic individuals. Because these opioid compounds can mimic the drug opium, Dr. Reichelt speculated that they could cause hyperactivity, tantrums and other behaviors common in autism. The gluten and casein free diet quickly gained popularity as a do-it-yourself autism treatment for parents to try.

Features

Individuals following a gluten and casein free diet must avoid all products containing wheat, barley, rye and milk. This can be difficult, since most processed foods contain one or more of these ingredients. Gluten, especially, can lurk in places where most people wouldn't expect to find it, such as in condiments like soy sauce. However, food manufacturers market special gluten and casein free baking mixes and other products. In addition, all fresh meats, fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten and casein free.

Considerations

Parents who place a child on the gluten and casein free diet often find they must prepare two separate meals at each mealtime, since most common menus contain several ingredients with gluten and/or casein in them. And, they may find that eating out in a restaurant becomes challenging with a gluten and casein free child, since few restaurant menus contain child-friendly foods that also are free of those two proteins.

Benefits

Putting a child on the gluten and casein free diet can take a huge effort, but many parents report strong results from using the diet to improve autistic behaviors in their children. In a survey from the GFCF Kids Diet Support Group, more than 11 percent of parents reported "dramatic" results in their children on the gluten and casein free diet, while nearly 30 percent said their results were "excellent." A total of 27 percent of parents said they had "good" results, and about 23 percent had "moderate" results. Less than 10 percent reported no change or regression in their children.

Evidence

However, the American Academy of Pediatrics points out that there's no strong scientific evidence backing the gluten and casein free diet for autistic children. A consensus statement published in 2010 in the medical journal "Pediatrics" found that gastrointestinal symptoms may cause autism symptoms in some children, but said that too few studies have been done on the gluten and casein free diet for pediatricians to support it for treating autism. The statement recommended more research on special diets in autism.