Transcript Autism and GFCF Diet, and Effects on

Autism and GFCF Diet, and
Effects on GI System
By: Erin Smith
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Outline
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Background information
Studies
Conclusion
Future Research
Background information
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Autism Spectrum Disorder - developmental
disorders marked by impairments in the
ability to communicate and interact socially
and by the presence of repetitive behaviors
or restricted interests
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Asperger’s Syndrome
Statistics
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1 in 150 children born today have or will
eventually have autism
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10% of cases = genetic background
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No known etiology
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History……..
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1943- Leo Kanner published his first paper
identifying autistic children /1938
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1967-Book published by Professor Bruno
Bettelem, who claimed that a traumatized
unloved child retreated into autism.
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Not looking for “medical” answers
Today…..
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Children usually not undergoing any medical
therapies to try and treat their disorder
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Researchers- Etiological disorders related to
autistic children
Related disorders
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Gastrointestinal disorders (most prominent)
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Antimicrobial use?
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Gluten or Casein
Disrupt microflora and produce neurotoxins
Gastrointestinal micro-flora studies in lateonset autism. Clinical Infectious Diseases.
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microbiological study of the intestinal
contents
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Autistic and control group
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Autistic group- late onset, GI symptoms, many on
GFCF diet
Finegold SM, Molitoris D, Song Y,
et al.
Gastrointestinal micro-flora studies in lateonset autism. Clinical Infectious Diseases.
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All- no antibacterial agents for at least 1 mo.
Stool specimens
Gastric/duodenal juices obtained
Specimens homogenized
Culture primarily for clostridia.
Mean counts of the clostridia and
ruminococci
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13 with autism and 8
w/o had clostridia and
ruminococci
23 species of
Clostridium and 5 of
Ruminococcus found in
the autistic group
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15 clostridial species
and 5 ruminococcal
species in the control
group
Conclusion
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microorganisms may be involved in lateonset autism.
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A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
should be performed with an agent effective
in patients with autism
GFCF Diet
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Improvement in symptoms by as much as
80% when placed on a strict gluten and
casein free diet.
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Do this first to set the way for further
treatments.
Gluten and casein free diets in autism: A study
of the effects on food choice and nutrition.
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study looks at the effects on nutrition/food
choice when practicing a GFCF Diet
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Results: Not substantially different
Cornish E
Gluten and casein free diets in autism: A study
of the effects on food choice and nutrition.
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GFCF Problems:
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Lack of conventional foods
Time
Money
Development of double blind gluten and casein
free test foods for use in an autism dietary trial.
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Developed GF, CF, and GFCF products
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Double blind study
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Muffin, porridge and batter mix, lemon and
almond cookies, and chocolate crispy bars
60 children with autism from 3 to 6 yoa
Adams SJ, Burton N, Cutress A,
et al
Development of double blind gluten and casein
free test foods for use in an autism dietary trial.
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Families received: test foods, detailed
cooking instructions and behavior and food
preference questionnaires for self-completion
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Offer foods 28 days- record acceptability
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Studied acceptability
Development of double blind gluten and casein
free test foods for use in an autism dietary trial.
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Results:
38 parents responding 63% stated children
were willing to try new food
95% of children tried at least some of food
Muffins, chocolate crispies liked best
Porridge, batter liked the least
Development of double blind gluten and casein
free test foods for use in an autism dietary trial.
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Parents suggested alternative savory foods
be an option (ex. Bread) 2008
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Now there are a lot of products
What is the current status of research concerning
use of a gluten-free, casein-free diet for children
diagnosed with autism?
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Between April 2006 and October 2008
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two-staged randomized control study
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Subjects fulfilled requirements for PDD
(pervasive developmental disorder) and ASD
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Parents filled out questionnaire
Marcason W.
What is the current status of research concerning
use of a gluten-free, casein-free diet for children
diagnosed with autism?
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Duplicate urine samples sent to two labs
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IAG compounds have been associated with a
more efficient diet plan
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38 participants following gluten and casein
free diet and 34 that weren’t following a diet
plan
What is the current status of research concerning
use of a gluten-free, casein-free diet for children
diagnosed with autism?
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What is the current status of research concerning
use of a gluten-free, casein-free diet for children
diagnosed with autism?
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Testing for results:
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ADOS ( Autism Diagnostic Observational
Schedule )
VABS (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scoring)
ADHD scoring
ADOS: Decreased shows improvement
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ADHD: Decrease shows improvement
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What is the current status of research concerning
use of a gluten-free, casein-free diet for children
diagnosed with autism?
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Results:
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Conclusion:
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GFCF diet at 8,12, and 24 mo. Showed benefits
Less impressive change between 8-24 mo.
Would have been better if could have been a
double-blind or some placebo element added
Hard to measure accurately
The gluten- and casein-free diet in
children with autism
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1st double blind trial done to control carefully
for other interventions
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22 children with ASD between the ages of
2.5 and 5.5 years of age
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10 hours a week of early intensive behavioral
intervention (EIBI) with no other interventions
Brown Univ Child Adolesc Behav
Lett
The gluten- and casein-free diet in
children with autism
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4 weeks of the GFCF diet, the participants
were screened for iron and Vitamin D
deficiency
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12wks only 14 children were left
The gluten- and casein-free diet in
children with autism
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parent/teacher/ researcher scores of
attention or activity:
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frequency or quality of stools
sleep behavior
activity levels on either the baseline/diet
comparison
pre-/postsnack comparisons.
The gluten- and casein-free diet in
children with autism
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Results:
Conclusion
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very sm. research group, increase numbers
Did not recruit children with ASD that had GI
distress
Did not see positive results
Conclusion
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Treatments should be specialized for each
child’s individual needs.
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GFCF diet does not work for everyone but
has been shown to work for some
Future Research…..
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Research of supplementing with probiotics
and prebiotics
Double blinded studies with more
participants need to be done
Cases of ASD are increasing every year so
research needs to be done to find a solution!
Any Questions
?
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