Autism Diets
Autistic kids are often picky eaters, preferring to eat—or only eating—certain foods, such as French fries and chicken fingers. Some children cannot tolerate crispy or crunchy foods, or will only eat these. My own son, Charlie, is willing to try almost anything, if he could.
“If he could”: Charlie has tested positive for celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder to which individuals are genetically susceptible (a relative also has it), and which results in the body being unable to absorb gluten, a protein found in wheat (which includes durum, semolina, spelt, kamut, einkorn, and faro), and the grains, rye, barley, and triticale. A few parents of autistic children have reported that their children “recovered” from autism as a result of being on a special diet free of gluten and also casein, the protein found in milk. This is not at all the case for Charlie; being on the diet has helped his overall health and, because Charlie has limited ability (so far) for communicating that some part of his body (such as his stomach) hurts, the diet seems to be of some benefit to him. The fact that he has been determined to have celiac disease through a medical test lends further credence to keeping him on the diet.
Novel “special diets” touted as treatments for autism seem to surface constantly, as I though when reading about oxalates, which are organic acids regularly produced by humans, animals, and plants. It seems that a diet containing foods low in oxalates is the most recent such special diet to put autistic children on; the Great Plains Laboratory is offering an online conference on “Oxalates Control is a Major New Factor in Autism Therapy.” A recent post on Autism Vox contained a discussion about “what is science,” and what pseudo-science; a post by Autism Diva on Antioxidants vs. oxidative stress examines the perhaps rather over-rated claims made for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and antioxidants such as beta carotene and vitamin E and concludes by noting that “this whole redox balance thing (which is not even necessarily a problem in most kids with autism, it’s just been promoted that way) seems like something that needs to be approached with great caution.”
Which is not bad advice to follow in regard to putting a child on the latest autism diet.
12 opinions for Autism Diets
Eating Fabulous » The Buffet Is Open: b5media’s Science and Health Channel Theme Day Focuses on Food
Dec 7, 2006 at 12:02 pm
[…] … you’re curious about diets that can treat autism? Kristina at AutismVox discusses and issues a caveat pertaining to claims that low oxalate diets can help treat autism. […]
Ballastexistenz
Dec 7, 2006 at 2:16 pm
Another caution is needlessly contributing to the development of orthorexia, which I’ve discussed in the past. Or orthorexia-by-proxy, if such a thing can exist, as the case may be.
Hsien Lei
Dec 7, 2006 at 6:47 pm
Wow. Learn something new every day. I’ve never heard of orthorexia before and had to look it up. Thanks, Ballastexistenz.
Daisy
Dec 7, 2006 at 10:55 pm
My teen with Aspergers has some obsessions about food — but fortunately is not a stereotypical “picky eater”. He is very open to dining out, which is also a great social experience. Now if he’d give up insisting on “exactly three foods” for every meal at home, we’d be quite relieved.
Adam
Dec 7, 2006 at 11:53 pm
I work with autistic children as a therapist. I am gluten intolerant. I see kids on all kinds of diets, purges, cleansings, hyperbaric chambers you name it. I have yet to see one of these ‘cure’ autism. When I eat gluten (bread mostly) I don’t get autistic. I get grumpy. I love this site. Keep up the good work.
Gerard Petillo
Dec 8, 2006 at 9:47 pm
I can only speak for my experiences with my son.
I have said in other posts to this forum that I believe my son’s autism is a neurological condition and that a special diet will not cure him.
I think the only effective intervention for my son is the educational approach.
Gerard Petillo
Parents of ANGELS Bronx N.Y.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Dec 8, 2006 at 10:46 pm
Education is the most important thing for Charlie. But we still have stuck to the diet, mostly because Charlie got the celiac diagnosis (when he was 2). He has lots of reactions to foods of various sorts.
But education is, again, the most important for Charlie.
Christina
Dec 10, 2006 at 11:49 pm
Hi! My son seemed to be hypersensitive to wheat products when he was younger. He’s not autistic. He still gets nuts when he eats too much wheat, but he’s not violent anymore. I developed some recipes for him you’re welcome to try and share, they are over at http://wheatfree-lunchbox.blogspot.com
If your son has celiac disease, then under no circumstances should he eat gluten, as you know. It’s not about anything else about his body, and being wheat-free won’t ‘cure’ him… but celiac can do grave damage to his system. Best of luck to you!
Julia
Dec 13, 2006 at 12:49 am
All my kids have had problems with certain foods. Sam is not inclined to try new things, but we’ve gone from not at all wanting it to very enthusiastic about one food item over a 4-month period. :) He’ll try stuff with gluten but won’t eat it a 3rd or 4th time; he actually gets “cause and effect” and I just figure the gluten is a problem somehow, and don’t push it. C. is allergic to orange juice, and we’re being careful not to give her any citrus; she’ll try anything she’s given. T. had problems with stuff I ate when he was breastfed, and is not enthusiastic about trying new things, but likes a lot more “healthy” foods noticeably more than his twin sister. (He is less interested in chocolate cake than she is, as well!)
Kristina Chew, PhD
Dec 13, 2006 at 1:16 am
Charlie is very interested in chocolate cake—to make an understatement! And no interest at all in orange juice.
Julia
Dec 13, 2006 at 1:30 am
Of course, C. is the only one interested in orange juice. :) And the only one for whom it is strongly contraindicated.
C. loves chocolate anything more than either of her brothers. Takes after her mommy that way, I guess. (And in a few other ways.)
Kristina Chew, PhD
Dec 13, 2006 at 1:49 am
Charlie is not really into sweets despite that—he likes the idea of cake, mostly just wants the frosting, no cookies.
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