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Influence of a combined gluten-free and casein-free diet on behavior disorders in children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder: a 12-month follow-up clinical trial
González-Domenech et al. (2020) explain that due to the limited therapeutic options for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), dietary interventions such as the implementation of gluten-free and casein-free (GFCF) diets are common. The purpose of this trial was to assess the extent to which a GFCF diet influences behavioral disorders in children and adolescents with autism. Another objective was to find an association between the GFCF diet and urinary beta-casomorphin concentrations. Each of the 37 participants were initiated on either a normal diet or a GFCF diet for 6 months, before changing over to the other diet for another 6 months. While assessments were completed at the beginning of the trial, after the normal diet, and after the GFCF diet, there was no apparent sign of behavioral changes after the GFCF diet. Moreover, the diet was not found to correlate with urinary beta-casomorphin concentrations. This study concludes that gluten-free and casein-free diets did not evoke significant modifications in behavioral symptoms of autism nor urinary beta-casomorphin levels. Blind and placebo-controlled trials are recommended for the future. [NPID: ASD, Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder, brain development, cognition, communication, social skills, neurodevelopmental disorders, behavioral disorders, gluten, casein]
Year: 2020
