Autistic Syndromes and Diet: a follow‐up study

Abstract

Abstract Dietary intervention was applied to 15 subjects with autistic syndromes, with pathological urine patterns, and increased levels of peptides found in their twenty‐four‐hour urine samples. The peptides, some of which are probably derived from gluten and casein, are thought to have a negative pharmacological effect on attention, brain maturation, social interaction and learning. Our hypothesis was that a diet without these proteins would facilitate learning. Social behaviour, as well as cognitive and communicative skills, were assessed before diet. The subjects were closely followed for a year, after which their urine was retested blind, and the assessment of behaviors and skills was repeated. Further retesting was made four years after the onset of dietary intervention. Normalization of urine patterns and peptide levels was found after one year. Likewise, a decrease in odd behaviour and an improvement in the use of social, cognitive and communicative skills were registered. This positive development continued through the next three years, though at a lower rate. These promising results encourage further research on the effect of dietary intervention.