Kate’s mom Suzanne used to try often and hard to push a gluten and dairy free diet on me, even pointing to the fact that many with Autism do better on a gluten free diet. I used to take her so serious that when she went out of state for a show I made cheese stuffed egg shells for Kate and her dad. I’m now starting to reconsider as I want to get better and one day repair my relationship with Kate.
I would like opinions from people on the Autism Spectrum or their family members on whether a gluten free diet does really help those on the autism spectrum. I would also like to know how it has helped those on the spectrum.
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
To answer your question Alexa, I did a little research, and this is what I found.
From http://www.publix.com/wellness/notes/Display.do?id=Diet&childId=Gluten_Free_Diet
“Why do people follow this diet?
Celiac disease (also called gluten enteropathy) is a disorder of the small intestine characterized by sensitivity to gluten. In people with celiac disease, eating gluten causes inflammation in and damage to the lining of the small intestine, resulting in diarrhea, malabsorption, fat in the stool, and nutritional and vitamin deficiencies.
A gluten-free diet is the primary treatment for celiac disease. Strict avoidance of wheat, barley, and rye (the three most abundant sources of gluten) usually improves gastrointestinal symptoms within a few weeks, although in some cases improvement may take many months. People with celiac disease must remove all gluten-containing foods from their diets in order to relieve symptoms. Following a gluten-free diet has been shown to reduce the incidence of cancer, low bone mineral density, and infertility in persons with celiac disease.
People with dermatitis herpetiformis may benefit from following a gluten-free diet. The cause of dermatitis herpetiformis is mainly an allergic-type reaction. Gluten-sensitivity enteropathy is found in 75 to 90% of people with dermatitis herpetiformis. Unlike celiac disease, however, gastrointestinal symptoms are mild or absent. Strict adherence to a lifelong gluten-free diet can eliminate dermatitis herpetiformis symptoms and intestinal abnormalities, as well as reduce or eliminate the need for medication in most people. However, an average of 8 to 12 months of dietary restriction may be necessary before symptoms resolve. Not all people with dermatitis herpetiformis improve on a gluten-free diet. Preliminary studies indicate sensitivity to other dietary proteins may be involved.
Preliminary evidence suggests that a gluten-free diet may help improve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. In one trial, 14 weeks of a gluten-free (no wheat, rye or barley), pure vegetarian diet, gradually changed to a lactovegetarian diet (permitting dairy), led to significant improvement in rheumatoid arthritis as evidenced by associated symptoms as well as by objective laboratory measures of disease.
HIV enteropathy, a complication of AIDS that is characterized by weight loss and chronic diarrhea, may respond to a gluten-free diet. In a preliminary trial, men with HIV enteropathy experienced a reduction in the number of episodes of diarrhea as well as significant weight gain while following a gluten-free diet.
For many years, researchers have been speculating that certain dietary proteins, including gluten, may contribute to the symptoms of schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia are more likely to have immune-system reactions to gluten than the general population, according to some studies. While clinical research findings have been inconsistent, some, but not all, people with schizophrenia may benefit from a gluten-free (and dairy-free) diet.
What are the symptoms?
Individuals who are sensitive to gluten may have the following symptoms:
Abdominal cramping and pain
Bloating and flatulence
Bone and joint pain
Canker sores
Chronic diarrhea
Delayed growth or short stature
Dyspepsia
Emotional disturbances, such as anxiety and depression
Fatigue
Infertility
Painful skin rash
Weight loss”
I hope that helps!
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“I have heard here at work around the water cooler that doctors who reccomend the diet do so to those who are on the spectrum who also have gastro intestional problems.”
Do they also recommend the diet to those who are not on the spectrum but do have gastro-intestinal problems?
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LFA or HFA sorry!! typo!
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I have heard here at work around the water cooler that doctors who reccomend the diet do so to those who are on the spectrum who also have gastro intestional problems. Those who tend to have constant stomach problems for various reasons. And in those cases, I can understand why such a diet would be a good thing, with proper supplements to make up for the viatmins missed in such a diet.
And if you have an LFA, who has difficulty communicating, in pain because of thier stomach, it makes sense that with such a diet, they would improove.
That being said, the diet does not work for everyone on the Spectrum. Even though I have always had stomach problems (this is inspite of whatever I happen to eat) I’ve never been on this diet, and I’ve done just fine!
Now I don’t buy into the whole biomed bs but a couple of things you might want to consider. Herbology is becoming an interest of mine and here are a couple of things that help me. Ginko Bilboa is excellent for memory and for kick starting the mind! It helps me to remember information longer. And St. John’s Wort is excellent for relaxation, anxiety, and depression! And if you have a strainer, White Willow Bark tea is excellent for aches and pains.
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From what I understand, Zach, that diet is only effective for children and even then only if there are issues with gluten and casein – which is not always the case.
As far as getting better in general is concerned, I recommend proper psychological support – which of course (as you know) is not available in Michigan. That’s why – again – I recommend a move to Indiana. Provided of course they have what’s needed. What you need right now above anything else is a boost to your self esteem. That has taken a real battering.
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I have personally went on a casein free diet because of my parents’ insistence, based on a liquid chromatography test for urinary opioid peptides, but noticed no significant benefit.
Good luck.
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The diet in relation to autism was originally based on the opioid excess theory, which has been discredited after studies like Absence of urinary opioid peptides in children with autism – freely available on the web.
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