Autism/gluten free

[cataloo]

My six year old has autism. We have him on a casien and gluten free diet. The whole family is on the diet and the gluten free is easy for us, its the casien free that is SO hard. So we just got back some lab test results and have discovered my son is allergic to dairy and garlic! I have had him on a gluten free and casien free diet now for 8 weeks. He has improved in his motor skills, speech, and his aggression has improved. So my worry is that he is no allergies to wheat. I wonder if I should continue the gluten free diet or not. My doctor wants me to give him gluten and then test him again in a month. My problem is that he has improved SO much with the diet change I am scared to introduce gluten again. I just cant believe he has no allergies to gluten. He has improved so much with his diet change.

[teacherpat]

Has the doctor also tested him for celiac disease, which is not an allergy but an autoimmune illness?
If your son is better, then does the doctor want to to reintroduce wheat in order to check him for celiac (and why did not the silly doctor check him properly in the first place?)
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Pat

[aklap]

Hi Cat,

Welcome to the board!

I will agree that CF is harder to do than GF. Cheese is pretty hard to replace.

True allergy testing is probably not going to show if he reacts to gluten. Do you know if he's had an Anti-Gliadin IgA or Anti-Gliadin IgG testing done? These tests will show if he is producing antibodies to gluten.

One thing to remember - gluten-free means no wheat, barley, rye and commercial oats. If the doc is only testing for wheat - they'd be missing barley, rye and oats - unless they specifically test for it.

http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/food-allergy.html

Has he been tested for celiac disease? Our Thread on Celiac Blood Tests & More Diagnostic Info


You're in a tough spot. Many medical professionals don't see the value in GF/CF diets in ASD because there's not enough "scientific" proof in dietary changes. You might see if there's a DAN (Defeat Autism Now) Doc in your area: http://www.autism.com/dan/danusdis.htm

I can understand wanting to know exactly what needs to be removed and what doesn't. I understand what it's like to live in "no man's land" - living outside the neat and tidy boxes that conditions/diseases get put in. All my testing for celiac disease was negative. So in most medical professionals eyes, I should go back to eating gluten. However, after my own dietary trials, I know that gluten is no friend of mine.

You've seen positive changes in what you've done to this point. Certainly one option is to stay the course you've plotted out.

I guess the question you have to ask...if allergy testing returns negative, would you put him back on gluten anyway?

Have you explored TACA's website? http://gfcf-diet.talkaboutcuringautism.org/dietary-research-in-asd.htm

Here's some Gluten/ASD info: http://glutenfreeandbeyond.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=40

I wish I could give you black and white answer....
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[Home-Based-Mom]

I can't help you with your diagnosis issues, but here is a website you might like:

http://www.gfcfrecipes.com/
_________________
Sandi ~ learning to live in a world obsessed and infested with wheat.
"If it wasn't food 100 years ago, it isn't food now." Mike Huckabee
Support Operation Christmas Child

[greenmatter]

thanks for the website
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I'm new this Gluten free diet!

[aklap]

Here's some more info you might be interested in...

http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/082409p8.shtml

September 2009 Issue

Supplements for Autism Spectrum Disorder
By Jasmin Ilkay, MPH, RD
Today’s Dietitian
Vol. 11 No. 9 P. 8

[Gus's Mama]

Welcome aboard!

I can really understand where you're coming from, Mama! We have our son (now almost three) on a GF/CF diet as well. He wasn't on the autism spectrum, but had many of the same physical ailments as children with autism. He also had developmental delays, motor skill impairment, skin rashes, and a number of scary digestive issues. After reading Jenny McCarthy's book Mother Warrior we decided to try going GF/CF to see how Gus would do.

Since going GF/CF in May, nearly all of his issues have "magically" vanished. His ped is NOT convinced it was the diet. He had so many symptoms vanish so quickly after starting this diet, I have a hard time thinking he just outgrew all of this stuff all at the same time. He also becomes violently physically ill and has developmental and cognitive setbacks if he's exposed to gluten or casein. It seems very obvious to me...

I'm also dealing with pushback from his pediatrician about the testing. Due to the severity of his illness when he's exposed to gluten, I'm understandably more than reluctant to put him back on gluten just for an "official" diagnosis. I don't need a piece of paper to tell me my son is at the least gluten and casein intolerant. When he goes to school, and needs a 504 Plan, we may rethink this, but at least at that point, he'll be an active participant in the decision-making process, and won't just be at the mercy of grown ups' whims.

By the way--he's now been re-evaluated and is testing right at age level for cognitive and physical development. Last year at this time, when he was almost two, he was testing at a 10 to 12 month level. He had improved marginally with OT and developmental therapies, but the big improvement came about two weeks after I started him on a GF/CF diet.

Al has given you some great info. Take a look at those websites--I've been to them all!! Again, welcome, and good luck!
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Deb
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SPD Little Boy, Gus: Getting better by the day! Improved digestion, skin issues clearing, able to focus and follow instructions, talking (the boy is TALKING!!!)

[aklap]

Deb - I was hoping you'd be stopping by with some words of wisdom!
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[Gus's Mama]

_________________
Deb
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SPD Little Boy, Gus: Getting better by the day! Improved digestion, skin issues clearing, able to focus and follow instructions, talking (the boy is TALKING!!!)