Panacea Index Logo

Command Palette

Search for a command to run...

Dietary Approaches to the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Advances in neurobiology
January 1, 2020
Richard E Hartman et al. (2 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to review the literature on dietary approaches, including casein-free diets, for managing gastrointestinal and behavioral symptoms in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Results Summary

The study found that gluten-free/casein-free diets, among other dietary approaches, generally demonstrated improved gastrointestinal and associated behavioral symptoms in individuals with ASD, though research on dietary interventions is limited and results are mixed.

Population

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and associated gastrointestinal issues.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
gluten-free/casein-free diet
increase
GI and associated behavioral symptoms
ASD populations
-
generally demonstrated improved
#1
fatty acid supplementation
increase
GI and associated behavioral symptoms
ASD populations
-
generally demonstrated improved
#2
pre/probiotics
increase
GI and associated behavioral symptoms
ASD populations
-
generally demonstrated improved
#3
Abstract

This chapter reviews the literature surrounding autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their relation to gastrointestinal (GI), behavioral, neurological, and immunological functioning. Individuals with ASD often have poor GI health, including bowel motility issues, autoimmune and/or other adverse responses to certain foods, and lack of necessary nutrient absorption. These issues may be caused or exacerbated by restrictive behavioral patterns (e.g., preference for sweet and salty foods and/or refusal of healthy foods). Those individuals with GI issues tend to demonstrate more behavioral deficits (e.g., irritability, agitation, hyperactivity) and also tend to have an imbalance in overall gut microbiome composition, thus corroborating several studies that have implicated brain-gut pathways as potential mediators of behavioral dysfunction.We examine the literature regarding dietary approaches to managing ASDs, including elimination diets for gluten, casein, or complex carbohydrates, a ketogenic diet, and a low oxalate diet. We also explore the research examining dietary supplements such as fatty acids, pro- and prebiotics, vitamins, minerals, glutathione, phytochemicals, and hormones. The research on dietary approaches to managing ASDs is limited and the results are mixed. However, a few approaches, such as the gluten-free/casein-free diet, fatty acid supplementation, and pre/probiotics have generally demonstrated improved GI and associated behavioral symptoms. Given that GI issues seem to be overrepresented in ASD populations, and that GI issues have been associated with a number behavioral and neurological deficits, dietary manipulation may offer a cheap and easily implemented approach to improve the lives of those with ASD.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Autism Spectrum DisorderDiet, Gluten-FreeDietary SupplementsGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHumansProbiotics
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations14
Citations/Year2.8
Relative Citation Ratio1.38
NIH Percentile62.2%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score2.19
Normalized Score0.60
Related Supplements