Restrictive Diets and Autistic Children

A new study was published in the medical journal Pediatrics on Monday, the New York Times reports. The introduction of the article states: “Many parents of autistic children have put their children on strict gluten-free or dairy-free diets, convinced that gastrointestinal problems are an underlying cause of the disorder. But a new study suggests the complicated food regimens may not be warranted.”

The (Mayo Clinic) study compared, through a review of medical records covering an 18-year period, 100 autistic children and 200 ‘typical’ children, in order to determine the incidence of gastrointestinal problems between the two populations. The study found no differences in overall frequency of gastrointestinal problems. The study found that 77% of autistic children and 72% of non-autistic children suffered, over the 18-year period, from bouts of one or more of the following ‘common’ gastrointestinal complaints: “constipation, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, reflux or vomiting. Feeding issues and picky eating were also common.”

Based on the facts of the study listed in the article, I’m wondering how on earth such a conclusion was drawn? Does the commonality of gastrointestinal incidence between the two groups somehow imply that a gluten-free casein-free (GF/CF) diet would be ineffective for one or both of the groups? If the study was comparing gastrointestinal complaints, how can a conclusion be drawn about the efficacy of a given diet? The information on the study is not specific. Were the autistic children that suffered from intestinal complaints actually already on GF/CF diet? Were the ‘bouts of common intestinal complaints’ a result of viruses or infections or just random complaints?

The doctor who led the study stated: “no trial …has proven so far that a gluten-free and casein-free diet improves autism. The diets are not easy to follow and can sometimes cause nutritional deficiencies.” Nutritional deficiencies are common among those with Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance. No trial has proven that a GF/CF diet improves autism, but there is PLENTY of evidence. Ask any parent of an autistic child who uses this as one of their many pieces of therapy or recovery for their children. The question isn’t JUST does it improve the symptoms of autism, but does it improve the gastrointestinal complaints? Again, ask the parents who use this diet. Ask anyone with Celiac Disease – the diet makes a difference.

If there is evidence in the autism community that the diet is effective, could it be that the diet might also be effective in the non-autistic community? What the study doesn’t ask is, if over 70% of children suffer from these same complaints, should a GF/CF diet be considered for BOTH autistic and ‘typical’ children?

Just to be clear, here are a few relevant stats for Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance:

· 1 out of every 133 people have Celiac Disease (CD) (compare with 1 out of 150 with Autism – both epidemic levels)
· Only 3% of people with CD have been diagnosed
· The number of people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity may be as high as 1 out of 7 people
· Gluten intolerance / Celiac Disease is responsible for a host of symptoms including, but not limited to: any type of gastrointestinal symptom, autoimmune diseases, anemia and nutritional deficiencies.

WHY is gluten all of a sudden the demon in this epidemic? Gluten is NOT easy to digest and since bioengineers are continually working to improve the gluten in grain, we now have 90% more gluten in wheat than we did a century ago. And what do we eat more than any other food in the U.S.? Wheat, of course.

So, does the study, at least as portrayed by the New York Times, REALLY have anything to do with whether or not autistic children would benefit from a gluten free diet? And here’s another question – if the human body is designed to function efficiently when given appropriate nutrition, shouldn’t a 70%+ incidence of REPORTED (i.e. – medical records) gastrointestinal discomfort among CHILDREN set off an alarm bell somewhere? If bloating, constipation and diarrhea are ‘common’, then why report them so they are in medical records? The fact is, the way the body is designed, they should NOT be common if the diet is appropriate. And just to reiterate – 80% of the immune system is attached to the gut. If the gut ain’t happy, the body ain’t happy.