Is your autistic or ADHD child on a gluten free diet?

Is your autistic or ADHD child on a gluten freeand therefore no meta-analysis was possible. Data
diet?are presented in narrative form. MAIN RESULTS:
Gluten free diets are very popular amongTwo small RCTs were identified (n = 35). No
alternative treatments to Autism Spectrummeta-analysis was possible. There were only
Disorder. The Autism Syndrome includes disordersthree significant treatment effects in favor of the
such as ADHD, Aspergers, Turret’s, anddiet intervention: overall autistic traits, mean
Autism. The concept is that an inflammatorydifference (MD) = -5.60 (95% CI -9.02 to -2.18), z
response to gluten is causing or contribution to= 3.21, p=0.001 (Knivsberg 2002) ; social isolation,
the child’s Autism Spectrum DisorderMD = -3.20 (95% CI -5.20 to 1.20), z = 3.14, p =
symptoms. Anecdotally we all know of children0.002) and overall ability to communicate and
that have improved on the gluten free diet.interact, MD = 1.70 (95% CI 0.50 to 2.90), z =
However some have and some have not. The2.77, p = 0.006) (Knivsberg 2003). In addition
scientific literature does not support these diets.three outcomes showed no significant difference
Here is a 2008 review of the diet.between the treatment and control group and we
BACKGROUND: It has been suggested thatwere unable to calculate mean differences for ten
peptides from gluten and casein may have a roleoutcomes because the data were skewed. No
in the origins of autism and that the physiologyoutcomes were reported for disbenefits including
and psychology of autism might be explained byharms. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Research has
excessive opioid activity linked to these peptides.shown of high rates of use of complementary
Research has reported abnormal levels ofand alternative therapies (CAM) for children with
peptides in the urine and cerebrospinal fluid ofautism including gluten and/or casein exclusion
people with autism. OBJECTIVES: To determinediets. Current evidence for efficacy of these diets
the efficacy of gluten and/or casein free diets asis poor. Large scale, good quality randomized
an intervention to improve behaviors, cognitivecontrolled trials are needed. PMID: 18425890
and social functioning in individuals with autism.[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] The answer to
SEARCH STRATEGY: The following electronicwhy the diet helps some and not others is simple
databases were searched: CENTRAL(Thebut may not be obvious to someone with an
Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2007), MEDLINE (1966emotional stake in the situation. Simply, some
to April 2007), PsycINFO (1971 to April 2007),children have an inflammatory issue and others do
EMBASE (1974 to April 2007), CINAHL (1982 tonot. Thankfully there are simple tests which can
April 2007), ERIC (1965 to 2007), LILACS (1982be performed to see if gluten is an issue for your
to April 2007), and the National Research registerchild. There is a test for antigliadin antibodies
2007 (Issue1). Review bibliographies were also(gliadin form of gluten). The child can also be
examined to identify potential trials. SELECTIONtested for the HLA-DQ gene which is associated
CRITERIA: All randomized controlled trials (RCT)with gluten sensitivity. These are usually simple
involving programs which eliminated gluten, caseinblood test. Lets be specific with these
or both gluten and casein from the diets ofmultifactoral Autism Spectrum Disorders. This will
individuals diagnosed with an autistic spectrumincrease our chance for success and not put our
disorder. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:children and possible there siblings (if you put
Abstracts of studies identified in searches ofeveryone on the diet so little Johnnie doesn’t
electronic databases were assessed to determinefeel different) through any unnecessary stress
inclusion by two independent authors the includedand lets direct our effects in a more specific and
trials did not share common outcome measureshopefully effective manner.