Gfcf diet - does this work? Anyone heard of it?

As a young adult with coeliac disease and aspergers syndrome i am gluten free, wheat free and even lactose free and i find that none of these things has any effect on me towards my aspergers what so ever i still have my behavioural problems and my tantrums from time to time hope this helps :) 

The pretty pie chart comes from Autism Speaks:

www.autismspeaks.org/.../ian-research-report-special-diets

I agree, research is still inconclusive but how many research elements are fully conclusive when it comes to Autism? A lot of work is still being done. Having said that many parents believe that there has been benefits, including some I have spoken to. Similarly, there is entirely another section that believes that there are none, hence my recommendation to visit a dietician should parents choose to try it.

Both AutismSpeaks and AutismResearch.net confirm that the study results are inconclusive even though they both acknowledge that some studies have shown success:

"The published trials included a total of 200 plus individuals aged 2 to adult.

• 10 studies reported significant improvements.
• 3 studies reported no significant improvements.
• "

albeit, the boundaries and validity of these studies, from a clinical perspective may still need to be confirmed.

There is no evidence that this works. The pretty pie chart of statistics is the "level of expected improvement". If there is proper evidence published in a proper peer-reviewed scientific journal then please provide this.

People can go to Research Autism website for their view of GFCF diets and other interventions.

researchautism.net/.../gluten-free-casein-free-diet-and-autism

Research Autism are a UK based charity that provide useful information about interventions like GFCF diets. Their opionion is that this is an unproven therapy.

Forum Rule

5. You can let people know about a service, book, telephone number, etc, that you’ve found helpful. However, if you have registered in order to advertise or sell products then your account will be closed. 

--------------

I dont see why not, me not selling or promoting anything. the article here is detailed on what GFCF Diet needs to be and is certainly helpful

Hi Autism Advocate. Do you think it appropriate to go on another autism support website with the name Autism Advocate and links to a website in America/Dominican Republic, appearing to be taking over the NAS forum?

Gluten free diet for Autism works in may cases, but the dietary needs of the child needs to be carefully administered, primiraly because the child may have picky eating habits and may resist GFCF Food.

I would recommend talking to your GP to refer to a dietician. Often the dietician can ensure 2 things:

• That your child's daily nutritional needs are adequately met by a proposed GFCF Diet Plan
• If the nutritional needs are not met, the at least the dietician can suggest alternative supplements.

There is information on diets on this site - just search for diet in the search box at the top of this page. GFCF doesn't have any supporters for ASD as i understand it.

i would agree with all that Azalea has said and the NAS info backs this up.

There are some popular diets for ASD - the American Feingold diet and there is an Australian food intolerance website that has its own theories. Neither of these have much peer reviewed evidence to back them up but that doesn't mean that they can't work. There is a saying in medicine that "absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence" which means that the lack of evidence doesn't always mean that the evidence isn't waiting to be found. 

In the meantime, your child needs a good balanced diet - protein, carbs, vitamins, roughage, fluids in a healthy balance. Getting a sensible mix into your child is not going to be easy by the sound of it but that has to be the priority - a poorly fed child is not going to perform at his best. ASD children are notoriously difficult feeders, there is advice on "dietary management"  here on this website - perhaps there is something useful for you there?

if you can get to that point then it won't hurt to do some exclusion tests to see if some food upsets him. this is not going to be a cure but there are lots of people who swear that this or that food makes a real difference. Also, don't use a diet that can't provide the essentials. 

Personally i suspect that there may be a link for some people's symptoms but i don't have proof so i think we have to cautious. I keep in mind what Mark Twain said : "a crank is a crank until he is proved right" The feingold diet and australian diets might be baloney or they might have a germ of truth in them. At the moment we really don't know.