Autism and Diet

Autism is a disease that effects 1 out of every 150 children in the United States. This is a marked increase over the incidents of autism during the 1970s and 1980s. During the seventies and eighties only 1 out of every 2000 children were diagnosed with autism. This leads to the question of whether there are really more children with autism or whether diagnostic tools make the diagnosis more available. The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) have broadened the diagnosis of this disease and now call it autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The causes of autism are not readily available and only 10% of children diagnosed with the condition have a causative diagnosis. The remaining 90% of diagnosed children do not yet have known causes.

Does a gluten free, casein free diet help with autism? The answer to that question is not clear. It is clear that many people suffer from GFCF allergies. It is also clear that many autistic individuals suffer from gastrointestinal difficulties that may be caused from sensitivity to wheat and dairy products.

While it cannot be verified that these diets work, it is true that many children suffering from autism also suffer from GI problems that benefit from dietary changes. These dietary changes also relieve stress and offer better health. This may also impact the cognitive abilities of individuals suffering from autism.

The Opiate Theory

There is a theory that when an individual suffering from autism consumes wheat or dairy products they enter the gut and break down into molecules that are similar to opiate-like drugs. According to the theory children with autism have compromised digestive systems known as “leaky guts” that allow proteins to leave the GI tract and enter the rest of the body where they act like opiates or drugs in the afflicted individual’s system. These molecules are not excreted but are absorbed into the system where they cause a condition similar to a “high”. Accordingly, when these foods are removed from the child’s diet their behavior and cognitive abilities improve.


Here are a few facts.

Wheat and dairy do break down into peptides which, look a lot like opium-like drugs. These are called gluteomorphines and cassomorphines.
Some children with autism (though not all) do have gastrointestinal issues.Some of these children have leaky intestines.
Some studies show that the peptides in question are found in unusually high amounts in the urine of autistic children, but those studies included only children with existing gastrointestinal issues. A study that included a broader group of autistic children did not show an increased level of peptides in the urine.

In spite of these facts, there is no empiric evidence to support a causative relationship between these proteins and autism. One cannot suppose a child is suffering from an addiction to certain foods just because he craves these foods. However, there is something to be said for the GFCF diet. Allergies to gluten and cassein are not uncommon, and those allergies often manifest themselves in diarrhea, constipation, bloating and other symptoms.About 19 to 20 percent of autistic children seem to have significant gastrointestinal issues.

Gluten free cassein free diets are difficult and expensive to follow. However, some benefit may be shown after three months. And again children tend to learn new skills in three months anyway so it is difficult to tell is that would have happened without the special diet.

Utilizing a special diet is interesting and is certainly being explored by researchers. More information will become available in time.