Biomedical Treatment Approach for Developmental Disorder

1. Will a gluten and casein free diet help my autistic child?

Before we discuss this special diet, we have to understand what has gone wrong. Briefly, gluten is a protein, and so is casein. Gluten is a protein fraction found in all wheat, rye, barley, and most oat products. Casein is a protein fraction found in all dairy products. To most autistic children, gluten and casein are the equivalent morphine. These undigested peptides leak out into the bloodstream through small holes in the gut (permeability), and attach to the opiate receptors of the autistic's brain and affect the functioning of the brain and other receptors. Essentially, many autistic children are "drugged" on wheat and milk products, as if they were on a morphine drip.

Although parents have been reporting a connection between autism and diet for decades, there is a lack of widely accepted documented researches. However, there is now a growing body of research that shows that certain foods seem to be affecting the developing brains of autistic children, causing or aggravating autistic behaviors. This is not because of allergies, but because many of these children are unable to properly break down certain proteins.

Researchers in England, Norway, and at the University of Florida had previously found peptides (breakdown products of proteins) with opiate activity in the urine of a high percentage of autistic children. Opiates are drugs, like morphine, which affect brain function. These findings have recently been confirmed by researchers at Johnson & Johnson Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. The two main offenders seem to be gluten (the protein in wheat, oats, rye and barley) and casein (milk protein.)

2. What is a leaky gut and what is its connection with autism?

One of the most fundamental players in our health is our bodily microbial flora. A human body is like a planet inhabited by huge numbers of various micro-creatures. Our digestive system, eyes, skin, respiratory organs co-exist with trillions of invisible micro-life, making one ecosystem. A healthy adult carries 1.5 to 2kg of bacteria in the gut. All these bacteria are not just a chaotic microbial mass, but a highly organized microworld with certain species predominating and controlling others. The number of functions they fulfilled is vital to us. Essential or beneficial flora is the most important group and the most numerous in a healthy individual. These bacteria are often referred to as our indigenous friendly bacteria. Transitional bacteria are those which we swallow daily with food and drink. When the gut is well protected by beneficial bacteria, this group of microbes goes through our digestive tract without doing any harm. However, if the population of the beneficial flora is damaged and not functioning well, this group of microbes can cause disease. A baby is born with a sterile gut full of beneficial bacteria. Various reasons have greatly damaged the should be healthy gut flora of the mother, and hence the baby, causing inflammation and leakage of the gut:

* lack of good nutrients in diets as a result of eating abundant processed food (pathogenic mircobes thrive on processing carbohydrates and sugar)
* reduced breast feeding
* overexposure to antibodies as a medicine or in farming
* overexposure to chemicals, toxin in the environment and in food processing
* a "too clean or sterilized environment" reduces the strength of our immune system upon challenge

A child born with an immature immune system is much more vulnerable to various infections (chest, ear, sore throats) and allergies (food allergies, eczema and asthma).

Worse of all, a leaky gut becomes a source of toxicity. These toxins get absorbed through the gut lining into the blood stream and carried to the brain. Many of these toxins are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and interfere with the normal brain function. As a result, the child develops learning problems or learning disabilities.

In real life, we see a great deal of overlap between allergies and developmental disorders. For example, children who are hyperactive/ADHD/dyspraxia are often suffering from eczema and asthma. Autistic children commonly have digestive problems, and severe allergies. The root, at least partly, goes to the poorly developed immune system and gut flora.

The Autistic Network for Dietary Intervention (based in United States) and Defeat Autism Now (DAN) highly recommends that parents try the gluten-free, casein-free diet for at least 3 months. It may take that long to see results, and you MAY NOT cheat. Gluten is virtually everywhere, hidden in thousands of foods you would never think of: soups, sauces, candy, cereals, breads, pastas, cookies, etc. Likewise, casein is present in ALL forms of dairy, including but not limited to, cheese, creams, many sauces, butter, yogurt, ice cream, anything with whey, caseinate, etc.

The gluten-free, casein-free diet is challenging, but it may make a tremendous difference. Let it be said that this diet will not affect every child, and may not have dramatic effects if it does. Parents should read related literature, consult your doctor and other parent friends as much as possible. Worries, hesitation and half-heartedness are the worst enemies to any successful experimentation. Once you decide that you would like to give it a go, there are a lot of resources (food substitutes, books, support network) that can help you getting through this. Most people will first eliminate casein (all dairy products) and then gradually eliminate gluten (all wheat, rye, barley, and oat products). What is of utmost importance is to realize that the diet is all or nothing.

3. Will my child be starved or lacking calcium if they are not allowed to take milk or wheat?

Children between the ages of one and ten require 800-1000mg of calcium a day. If the child drinks three 8-ounce glasses of fortified rice, soy or potato milk per day, he would meet that requirement. He can also take calcium supplements in various forms; tablets and liquids. There are some very good milk substitutes on the market: soy based, rice based, potato based, quinoa based, pea protein based.... There are also gluten free cookies, snacks, cereals and ketchup that you can find.