New study on GF (gluten free) and CF (casein free) Diets.
7 December 2008This should be good news to families of children with autism, but it doesn’t look promising.
On her web site, Age of Autism, Kim Stagliano reports that the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston will be conducting a four week double-blind stuffy to see if there is a basis for many parental claims that their autistic children improve when gluten and/or casein are removed from their diet.
Many doctors are skeptical of parental reports that things like bread and milk are related to the symptoms of autism, and a study like this should help to clear up the issue … right?
Not necessarily, says Kim. She knows that it can take much longer than four weeks to see results. For some children it can take many moths after all gluten and/or casein has been removed before they see a change.
Following a diet like this requires that the food be totally controlled. Unlike the diet of a typical Feingold child, an occasional slip can mean the difference between success and failure. What assurances are there that there will not be any slip-ups or opportunities for cheating.
And finally, Kim asks, “Who is funding this study?” The lead researcher notes that “Hundreds and hundreds of parents think this works but we need some serious evidence.” Are they actually looking for evidence of success or for a way to try and hush up these annoying parents who challenge the traditional medical beliefs on autism?
Reprinted from Pure Facts, the newsletter of the Feingold Association of the United States, FEINGOLD
For those of us who have seen the effects of taking gluten and dairy out of our children’s diets, there is no doubt that it makes a difference, and also that it takes time, up to 6 months on average. Does it completely recover a child with autism, absolutely not, and I don’t think any parent of a child on the spectrum believes that. However, it is one more tool available to parents to ensure their child has the best chance possible of recovery. If there was a small chance that it would work for my child, I was going to take it. There is no harm in trying to remove these products out of your pantry, and realistically if your child was allergic to nuts or latex similar precautions would be considered a must, and any parent not adhering rigidly against contamination by those products would surely be considered a negligent parent. So why is there so much ridicule and rhetoric thrown at parents who choose to try this simple, and easy, to implement diet intervention? It really is a shame that so many are persuaded that trying is fruitless and that as no controlled studies have proven it will work, parents are often advised that attempts are a waste of time and effort. However, it is important to note that there are also no studies documenting that this dietary intervention does not work. As with everything, we also have to consider the source of the ”no merit” opinions, often this is from the same medical community, who up until 10 or so years ago, blamed autism on refrigerator mothers. One has to wonder whether egos may still getting in the way of potential recovery opportunities.
Make an adjustment: Keep an open mind ~ Stay Healthy ~ Be happy!
Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan at 303.674.1500 or email office@fontanachiro.com
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December 8th, 2008 at 4:06 am
Good morning. Chiropractors – my very favorite doctors! Thanks for sharing this info with your readers. Diet can prevent a child from having to go on meds – sure it’s a pain in the you know what to make food from scratch. (As I pop into my kitchen to make 3 GFCF breakfasts and pack 3 lunches.) But it sure beats putting a 3 year old onto Prozac, Risperdal et al and watching the downhill slide. (I’m not against all meds – and I realize there are situations that can call for them, but MD’s should get a clue about alternatives.) Rolling eyes to heaven…..
Best,
KIM