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Autism and dietary therapy: case report and review of the literature.

Journal of child neurology
August 1, 2013
Martha R Herbert et al. (2 authors)
Case ReportsJournal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

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.

Extracted Claims (8)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Autistic DisorderChildDiet, KetogenicElectroencephalographyFemaleHumans
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality65/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations73
Citations/Year6.1
Relative Citation Ratio2.84
NIH Percentile83.8%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.48
Normalized Score0.67
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