Autism and dietary therapy: case report and review of the literature.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of a gluten-free, casein-free diet, later combined with a ketogenic diet, on autism symptoms, epilepsy, and cognitive-behavioral outcomes in a child with autism and epilepsy.
Results Summary
The child showed marked improvement in autistic and medical symptoms on a gluten-free, casein-free diet, and further seizure control and cognitive-behavioral benefits when the diet was combined with a ketogenic regimen. Secondary benefits included resolution of obesity and significant improvements in autism severity and intelligence quotient.
Population
A single child with autism and epilepsy.
Effective Dosage
Not specified (dietary intervention).
Duration
Several years.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
gluten-free, casein-free diet | decrease | autistic and medical symptoms | a child with autism and epilepsy | - | showed marked improvement | #1 |
ketogenic diet customized to continue the gluten-free, casein-free regimen | decrease | seizure activity | a child with autism and epilepsy | - | showed significant improvement | #2 |
gluten-free casein-free ketogenic diet | decrease | morbid obesity | a child with autism and epilepsy | - | resolution | #3 |
gluten-free casein-free ketogenic diet | increase | cognitive and behavioral features | a child with autism and epilepsy | - | improvement | #4 |
gluten-free casein-free ketogenic diet | decrease | Childhood Autism Rating Scale score | a child with autism and epilepsy | from 49 to 17 | decreased | #5 |
gluten-free casein-free ketogenic diet | increase | intelligence quotient | a child with autism and epilepsy | 70 points | increased | #6 |
gluten-free casein-free ketogenic diet | decrease | seizure activity | a child with autism and epilepsy | - | essentially seizure free | #7 |
gluten-free casein-free ketogenic diet | decrease | electroencephalogram spike-wave activity | a child with autism and epilepsy | 1-1.5 second | showed only occasional | #8 |
We report the history of a child with autism and epilepsy who, after limited response to other interventions following her regression into autism, was placed on a gluten-free, casein-free diet, after which she showed marked improvement in autistic and medical symptoms. Subsequently, following pubertal onset of seizures and after failing to achieve full seizure control pharmacologically she was advanced to a ketogenic diet that was customized to continue the gluten-free, casein-free regimen. On this diet, while still continuing on anticonvulsants, she showed significant improvement in seizure activity. This gluten-free casein-free ketogenic diet used medium-chain triglycerides rather than butter and cream as its primary source of fat. Medium-chain triglycerides are known to be highly ketogenic, and this allowed the use of a lower ratio (1.5:1) leaving more calories available for consumption of vegetables with their associated health benefits. Secondary benefits included resolution of morbid obesity and improvement of cognitive and behavioral features. Over the course of several years following her initial diagnosis, the child's Childhood Autism Rating Scale score decreased from 49 to 17, representing a change from severe autism to nonautistic, and her intelligence quotient increased 70 points. The initial electroencephalogram after seizure onset showed lengthy 3 Hz spike-wave activity; 14 months after the initiation of the diet the child was essentially seizure free and the electroencephalogram showed only occasional 1-1.5 second spike-wave activity without clinical accompaniments.