The debate about diet and autism- The debate about diet and autism
Welcome to the conflicted world of diet and autism where opinion over the benefits of removing gluten (the protein in wheat, rye and barley) and casein (the protein in milk) from the diet is divided. Depending on which website you click on, the gluten-free, casein-free diet is either saviour or undiluted snake oil.
Between these polar opposites is a grey area with not much to go on - and definitely nothing on which to hang a claim that diet cures or causes Autism Spectrum Disorder - the term covering a range of developmental problems including autism, Asperger's syndrome and atypical autism. There are anecdotes from some parents and health professionals that dietary changes including the gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) diet can improve behaviour, along with some studies showing a benefit for a change of diet in some children - but others showing no benefit at all. Muddying this picture even more is the fact that some studies are only short term and include only small numbers of children.
Welcome to the conflicted world of diet and autism where opinion over the benefits of removing gluten (the protein in wheat, rye and barley) and casein (the protein in milk) from the diet is divided. Depending on which website you click on, the gluten-free, casein-free diet is either saviour or undiluted snake oil.
Between these polar opposites is a grey area with not much to go on - and definitely nothing on which to hang a claim that diet cures or causes Autism Spectrum Disorder - the term covering a range of developmental problems including autism, Asperger's syndrome and atypical autism. There are anecdotes from some parents and health professionals that dietary changes including the gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) diet can improve behaviour, along with some studies showing a benefit for a change of diet in some children - but others showing no benefit at all. Muddying this picture even more is the fact that some studies are only short term and include only small numbers of children.
