gluten free casein free | Autism PDD

Thanks to everyone for their replies! You've been helpful. I have started the diet with my son and it is going well. I definetly noticed a 'withdrawl' reaction when I took away milk, but his behavior is improving. I need to double check all of my food products for the dairy. Dairy and wheat are in products you normally think to check. I'll also be starting on the wheat products next week.

I figure the diet certainly won't hurt, so I'm giving it a try.

Thanks and have a lovely day,

sprianne79

HI there-

I am interested in trying my 21 month old son out on the GFCF diet don't really know where to start for resources. He is also allergic to eggs and peanuts/tree nuts. Anyone have a good cook book to recommend or a site to look at? If you have tried this diet with your child, what was the outcome? Any input is appreciated!

First I have to admit I was 100% against even trying the diet with my first son as he ate a VERY well balanced diet (LOVED veggies and ate a wide variety of foods) and I didn't want to mess with that.

Little history... We took Matthew off milk entirely for a month this summer questioning an allergy because of uncontrolled eczema issues. During that time his chronic constipation (he's been on Miralax since he was 7 months old) resolved and he was a completely different kid. We've since discovered he is not allergic and re-added milk into his diet and have noticed an increase in "odd" behaviors (for lack of a better term). Both dh and I noticed it but were afraid to admitt it.

So here we are contemplating trialing CF again... but I just don't know how to go about that and make sure that I maintain the right nutritional balance for my son. He's allergic to soy, peanuts, tree nuts, vanilla... and has issues with rice (not an official allergy as he tests negative but it causes eczema flares and rashes so we limit). He 100% refuses any vegatables... and trust me I offer EVERY meal and EVERY meal they are left untouched no matter how I present them. He rarely touches meat... he'll eat hot dogs (we buy Applegate Farms organic nitrate/nitrite/antibiotic free ones) and small amounts of chicken but thats it. How on earth am I supposed to get enough protein, fat, calcium, and vit D in his diet without his milk??? I just don't feel comfortable going CF until I know how to get what his body needs without it. Any suggestions.

Dh and I agreed that if we see a dramatic improvement then we'll consider GF as well... but for now with all of his other allergies/intolerences and pickiness it'd be REALLY hard to feed him so we'd like to take it one step at a time. We also agreed if we saw improvments we'd try the diet on Jason as weel... he's not going to like that We left out breads/pasta for 2 years. It did helped some. We just ate all other stuff that he can have. Some say smelt breads are ok.

I just got a pamphlet with the official Norwegian government recommendations about GFCF diets for children with autism. I don't intend to pursue the diet (my son got a metabolism test that I believe ruled out the need for it), but I was curious what the government committee would have to say. The recommendations might appeal especially to those of us who are conservative and generally prefer to stick to mainstream medicine.

The brochure says that studies of the effectiveness of GFCF diets are few and of varying quality, so they can't recommend the diet but don't dismiss it either. They acknowledge that there is enough basis for some people to consider trying it.

They recommend the following steps:

1) Get a physical.

2) Consult a nutrition specialist to evaluate current diet and get advice on how these foods can be replaced by GFCF foods. GFCF foods tend to have less protein, calcium, fiber, and B-vitamins than regular foods, so supplements might be necessary.

3) Do a test for celiac disease before starting the diet (I get the impression that the test will be invalid if done while on a GF diet).

4) Consider how a strict diet will work for the child and the whole family. How will you be able to handle a new source of conflict ("no, you can't eat that" and then maybe the child starts sneaking food). How will you be able to handle new limits on your social life (hard to eat out)? Might the diet worsen your child's food issues/aversions and skepticism towards new foods? Do you have time to prepare special foods? Will the whole family eat GFCF foods?

5) Consider the financial impact of buying more expensive GFCF foods.

6) Seek information through autism organizations, but also organizations with expertise on other problems affecting diet (like milk allergies and celiac disease).

7) Plan how to evaluate the diet's success. Keep a diary.

8) Cooperate with daycare and school in implementing and evaluating the diet.

9) Implement slowly, focusing at first on just one meal-type. I'll use the example of breakfast. After several days (or more) practice with GFCF breakfasts, work on another meal-type and then another until you have a completely GFCF diet.

10) Stay in contact with the doctor and nutritionist (to make sure the child follows a good growth curve, among other things).

P.S. The brochure mentions studies of intestinal membranes in children with autism compared to healthy children, children with allergies, and children with chronic stomach and intestinal infections. Results show that children with autism have unusual changes in their intestinal membranes that are completely different from known immune reactions in the intestines. I would certainly like to know more about this.

We tried it and it really changed my sons life. I do not believe it helps everyone, but I believe it is definitely worth a try. We started it very early, and have tested back the foods we have taken away only to see symptoms return. If you have had your child tested for allergies, and he has none, is this even an avenue worth persueing? My son has such a limited diet of pizza chicken nuggets and pb and j. I think he'd go hungry.

I'm thinking of starting my son on the gluten free / casein free diet. I'd like everyone's thoughts on this diet. Have you tried it and did it work for your child?

sprianne

I've found this website incredably useful - http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/shelf/GC. html

It's a list of hundreds of gluten free / casein free foods. Its great to give you an idea what your kids can and can't eat.
Copyright Autism-PDD.net