Diet and Autism

. Autism affects almost one of every 110 children, according to CDC. This is more children diagnosed with autism than with diabetes, cancer and AIDS combined. However, a healing still needs to be found, and formal autism treatments are limited. So many parents are trying diets and autism supplements they heard about other parents or the media.

But can a child actually have an effect on autism or other autism spectrum disorders (ASD)? And what nutrients or food offer promise to improve behavior, encourage children to be more communicative, or alleviate the gastrointestinal conditions that often accompany autism?

WebMD turned to autism and the specialist learning timer in Brian Udell, MD, director of the Child Development Center of America, for answers.

Diet 030 - Diet and Autism

What are the ordinary medical and nutritional challenges for children with ASDS? The most common GI symptoms include chronic diarrhea, abdominal distension, discomfort and swelling, gastroesophone reflux disease (GERD), excessive gas, constipation, fecal impaction, food regurgitation and a fecute bowel syndrome. Children with autism are also at risk for many other nutritional problems such as nutritional deficiencies, food allergies, food intolerances and food problems.

What are the treatments for autism? First, there are no cures for the disorder and there is no better treatment for all children with ASDs. Every child should be evaluated individually. This can be complicated because the diagnosis usually occurs in 1 to 3 years of age that are not large communicators. Doctors are based their treatment protocols in laboratory results, parent reports and physical exams. Even if there are no laboratory tests to diagnose autism, there are tests that can help us manage underlying symptoms.

Most children show improvements with early intervention treatment services, where they learn important skills such as walking, talking and interacting with other children.

Depending on the symptoms, [many] children are treated with some form of diet. The medication is common, as well as physical, occupational, social, educational and communication therapy. And because the research is behind, some doctors try to approach complementary and alternative drugs that are safe.

What are some common dietary changes that can offer symptom relief? According to the autism network, almost one in five children with autism is on a special diet. There is no ASD-specific diet, but the removal of certain proteins can relieve the symptoms. The gluten-free diet, without casein (GFCF) has the largest research and is one of the most common dietary interventions. About 25% of my patients find relief and improvement with this diet. Excludes gluten, protein into wheat, and casein, milk protein. In theory, children improve in the diet because the incomplete break of these proteins create a ... substance that can ignite the intestine. Studies have shown improvements and parents anecdotally reporting success when these two proteins are removed from the diet.

Parents can also have their children tested for celiac disease, which responds to a gluten-free diet.

Do parents try diets that eliminate certain foods to see if their children improve?

Although a recent report in the Journal of Pediatrics no need for dietary intervention, each father needs to take a diet of his child. And if you eliminate some substances can end chronic diarrhea or make children more communicative, most parents are willing to try.

The first step for parents to try is a disposal diet for about a month to see if the omission of casein and gluten or other highly allergic foods such as eggs, fish, seafood, tree nuts, peanuts, soy and eggs can improve symptoms. If the child is drinking a lot of milk, I suggest starting with the elimination of dairy and replacing it with soy milk or almond fortified by calcium.

Elimination is a barometer better than the test for these allergic foods, since the allergy test can not be as effective.

After the period of elimination, slowly insert a new food at a few days every few days. Keep a diary of symptoms over the periods of disposal and reintroduction to determine which foods are tolerated.

These dietary changes may not be easy to deploy, but are non-invasive approaches, no damage that are worth trying to see if your child improves.

Are there other diet strategies that can work?

Autistic children who also have a convulsive disorder may find relief from a low-fat ketogenic diet and low carbohydrate. This diet often leads to poor growth, bad weight gain and increased cholesterol levels, so it is imperative to use this approach under the supervision of a registered and medical nutritionist.

Some children are successful when they follow a diet of yeast and without sugar.

Most parents would benefit from meal tips and strategies to encourage their children to accept new foods. Parents need to serve as models by eating new foods that are introduced along with family foods.

Do you recommend vitamins or mineral supplements?

Absolutely. Most children with ASDs (or, for this subject, most children) are picky eaters, go on food and do not eat a well-balanced diet. Parents need to make sure their children are attending to their nutritional needs and a once more daily multivitamine with minerals is a great insurance. Stay within the guidelines accepted for all nutrients and make sure they are getting an adequate amount of all vitamins and minerals.

What other nutritional advice do you give to your patients? A healthy diet is essential for all children, but even more with children with ASDS because concerns about concerns that their GI issues can lead to a bad absorption of important nutrients for growth and development. One of our main goals is to make children eating a nutritionally complete diet and restoring a healthy GI system.

I recommend a healthy, natural and varied diet closer to the dirt as possible. Avoid pesticides, preservatives, artificial ingredients, fast foods, monosodium glutamate or processed foods is ideal, but it is not always practical. Diets that are less processed and more natural, such as an organic diet, are easier to digest and absorb because they contain fewer toxins that need to be eliminated.

Many children with ASDs tend to be disabled in essential fatty acids, fibers and proteins. We volume to the nutritionists registered to evaluate diets and help parents understand where nutrient gaps are and how to fill them.

Are there other supplements that you recommend to your patients?

I recommend omega-3 fatty acids because it is well known that these are "good fats" that can help reduce inflammation. Parents can try salmon, cod liver oil or use supplements without mercury.

How can probiotics help GI symptoms?

. Probiotics contain healthy bacteria and can improve microflora in the GI tract. Children with autism tend to have abnormal GI flora, and when routinely ingesting probiotics, their feces can improve. I suggest a probiotic with 1.5 to 4 billion bacterial colonies, depending on the child's age. These are available in the grocery store.

Diet and Autism - Diet 030

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