GF/CF diet with ASD?

[6112louisa]

Hi,

Have you tried your ASD child on a gluten and/or casein free diet, and if so what happened? I would love to hear your experiences as this is something that has been recommended to me by the paediatrician and I am trying to find out a bit more about how it has worked (or not) for others.

Thank you

www.espa-research.org.uk/

The above link is the organisation that is researching GFCF diets for those with ASD. They will do a urine test looking for chemicals that may suggest that either GF or CF or both may be beneficial. They used to be based at Sunderland University, but are now separate, but they are the same people.

My DS2 had a sample anaylsed and we tried a CF, then a GF diet for 7 months with no success, unfortunately. His urine analysis did suggest that his reaction to casein was very low and to gluten middling.

If your DC has gut issues, runny poo etc, red ears, gluten cravings this diet may well be successful for you. I have heard and know of many for whom it was really successful in improving behaviour and attention. Do the sample first, while your DC is on a normal diet. Even though it didn't work for my DS, I think it's worth a try, and if you have paed backing (we did also) you should also make sure you get advice from a dietician (not a quack nutritionist, not medically recognised) that you aren't excluding any vital nutrients. Especially if you go CF. HTH

Hi
My son has been gluten and dairy free for 3 months now. We tried it not just because it can help behaviour in some children but because he had pretty much constant diarrhoea (obviously we had everything else ruled out first). The diet has helped with his stomach problems and in term of behaviour his speech had definately improved. Its very hard to tell though as he is only 3 and half, its possible this improvement would have happened anyway.

I would definately recommend the urine test with espa reseach. I don't think its expensive, about £60 I believe. We had already started the diet when we found out about them so it was too late to test. They were very helpful though and explained how it works.
Also completely agree with EllenJaneisnotmyname, don't do it without consulting a dietician because you need to make sure your still getting enough vitamins and minerals.
Apart from all that it isn't actually as difficult as it sounds, I thought it would be a nightmare but I was happily wrong.

We cut out dairy and DS said - 'Now I don't feel sick all the time'

So then we cut out Gluten and he said - 'Now I don't have a sore tummy all the time' :(

So, for obvious reasons, his behaviour dramatically improved.

And over time his constipation etc cleared up.

We also give him a super-strength probiotic every day.

It's definitely worth a try.

You might like to read the GAPS diet which tells you more about it.

We have been GF and CF for just under a year now. CF not a problem as DS! hates all dairy.

DS1's gastrointestinal problems have cleared up, his concentration has dramatically improved and he is much more engaged and empathetic. My guidebook has been Eating for Autism by Elizabeth Strickland which is American but none the worse for that!

A good course of strong probiotics initially really helped. I still use Biocare probotic straws for kids or Culturelle capsules.

It seemed very daunting at first but we just baby-stepped the process, initially just changing the type of bread he ate.. There is so much gf available now that is has been much easier than I originally thought.

Meant to say we also saw a really good nutritionist too.

Thank you all for your replies. It is so good to hear from people that it helped your LOs - I am pleased for you and them, and it gives me the incentive to give it a go. We have a dietician's appt in June so I think I'll wait for that before we start just to be sure but we might try and do the urine sampling before hand so we are ready to go asap! Many thanks