 I've
spent four solid days compiling a large list of
references for studies regarding dietary and biological
interventions for autism. I was surprised by how
many supportive studies have actually been done
and published. Most of the medical and scientific
abstracts are from major peer-reviewed journals.
This list should be a great resource for parents
who are enlisting the support of their physicians.
It will also be extremely helpful as a reference
and resource for supportive physicians who are trying
to get an overview of the science done to date.
This includes everything I was able to find that
seemed relevant or useful, and I excluded only a
few that seemed redundant. Despite the time I put
into it, I'm sure I missed some. If you know of
additional studies that you would like to see included,
please send them to me at kseroussi@aol.com.
Please look at http://www.autismndi.com/studies.htm
to see the results.
Karyn Seroussi AND I (Autism Network for Dietary
Intervention)
[Here is a sample of what's at the website.]
Journal articles regarding autism, food allergy,
gastrointestinal abnormalities, gluten, dairy,
and the effects of the opiate properties of milk
and wheat-derived peptides on neurological function
.
Summary:
Based on reports from caregivers, case studies
and
observation of patients with schizophrenia and
children with severe
behavioral disorders, Dr. FC Dohan hypothesized
in 1960s and 70s that
gluten and dairy seemed to worsen these behaviors,
and that in many cases, a
restricted diet could lead to significant improvement
or recovery from
these disorders.
The biochemical explanation for this phenomenon
remained unclear,
however, several other studies seemed to bear
out this observation, and in
1981, using more advanced laboratory technology,
Dr. Karl Reichelt,
Director of Clinical Chemistry for the Department
of Pediatric Research at the
Rikshospitalet (National Hospital) in Oslo, Norway,
found and reported
abnormal peptides in the urine of schizophrenics
and autistics.
Peptides are pieces of proteins that are not completely
broken down
into individual amino acids.
Dr. Reichelt has observed that these peptides,
which are 4 or 5 or 6
amino acids long, have sequences that match those
of opioid peptides
(casomorphin and gliadomorphin).
The known dietary sources of these opiate peptides
are casein (from
milk) and gliadin or gluten (from cereal grains).
He has since conducted several studies examining
this finding, as
have several other researchers, including Paul
Shattock at the University of
Sunderland in England, Dr. Robert Cade at the
University of Florida,
Gainesville, and Dr. Alan Friedman, of Johnson
and Johnson Ortho Clinical
Diagnostics.
The best evidence for this correlation lies in
the thousands of case
reports of improvement or recovery of children
with autism on this diet.
However, responsible physicians who have taken
the time to review
these studies must agree that there is, indeed,
significant scientific
evidence to support a trial period of careful
elimination of these
proteins from the diet of children on the autistic
spectrum.
Some Abstract Titles
[The full listing of Abstracts and text is available
at the website
http://www.autismndi.com/studies.htm .]
Biochemical aspects in autism spectrum disorders:
updating the
opioid-excess theory and presenting new opportunities
for biomedical
intervention. Whiteley P, Shattock P: Expert Opin
Ther Targets. 2002
Apr;6(2):175-83.
A randomised, controlled study of dietary intervention
in autistic
syndromes Knivsberg AM, Reichelt KL, Hoien T,
Nodland M: . Nutr Neurosci
2002 Sep;5(4):251-61.
Diet in autism and associated disorders. Garvey
J: J Fam Health
Care
2002;12(2):34-8.
Gluten and casein free diets in autism: a study
of the effects on
food choice and nutrition.Cornish E: J Hum Nutr
Diet 2002 Aug;15(4):261-9.
Reports on dietary intervention in autistic disorders.
Knivsberg AM,
Reichelt KL, Nodland M: Nutr Neurosci 2001;4(1):25-37.
Changes in beta-casomorphine-7 effect on behavior
of albino rat pups
in postnatal development [Article in Russian].Dubynin
VA , Ivleva IuA,
Malinovskaia IV, Kamenskii AA, Andreeva LA, Alfeeva
LIu, Miasoedov NF Zh
Vyssh Nerv Deiat Im I P Pavlova 2001 May-Jun;51(3):386-9.
Milk-induced reflux in infants less than one year
of age. Cavataio
F,
Carroccio A, Iacono G.: J Pediatr Gastroenterol
Nutr 2000;30 Suppl:S36-44
Evidence of very delayed clinical reactions to
cow's milk in cow's
milk-intolerant patients. Carroccio A, Montalto
G, Custro N, Notarbartolo
A,
Cavataio F, D'Amico D, Alabrese D, Iacono G: Allergy
2000
Jun;55(6):574-9.
Autism and schizophrenia: intestinal disorders.
Cade R, Privette M,
Fregly M, Rowland N, Sun Z, Zele V, Wagemaker
H, Edlestein C:Nutritional
Neuroscience 3: 57-72, 2000. [No abstract available]
Serotonin uptake stimulating peptide found in
plasma of normal
individuals and in some autistic urines. J Pept
Res 1999 Jun;53(6):641-6
Pedersen OS, Liu Y, Reichelt KL. Ek J, Stensrud
M, Reichelt KL.
Gluten-free diet decreases urinary peptide levels
in children with
celiac disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1999
Sep;29(3):282-5.
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