Proprionic Acid - UWO Scientists Find Potential Autism Gut-Brain Connection

Scientists at the University of Western Ontario, responding to parents' reports of significant improvement in behavior of their autistic children after elimination of wheat and dairy products from their diets, have conducted a lab study using rats which appears to confirm an autism gut-brain connection.

Dr. Derrick MacFabe, director of the UWO research group reported to CBC that the research focused on propionic acid, a short chain fatty acid found in the gut and in bread and dairy products. When the compound was administered to rat's brains:

"They immediately engaged in bouts of repetitive behaviour, hyperactivity and impaired social behaviours which had close similarity to what parents are seeing with autism,"

The rat's brains were later examined and found to contain inflammatory processes similar to those in the brains of autistic children. Screening studies looking at effects of dietary changes in the general population are now under way with MacFabe's team at UWO, Queen's University and Harvard University.

The UWO study reported today will have to be followed up on before conclusions can be drawn. The study itself though is quite revolutionary in so far as it was prompted by observations made by parents of autistic children. Parents' observations of their autistic children are often disregarded or discounted and the greatest long term value of this study may turn out to be that the research team took parents' reports into account as a guide to conducting research into potential causes of autism.

Mayo Clinic - No Evidence to Support Gluten Casein Free Autism Diet

An unidentified poster asked an expert from the Mayo Clinic whether there special diets, specifically Gluten Casein free diets can help children with autism. The Mayo Clinic per pediatrician Jay Hoecker, M.D., state clearly that there is NO EVIDENCE to support the effeciveness of gluten casein free diets. This one was popular when my son was diagnosed 9 years ago and we tried it for awhile and saw no benefit. Dr. Hoecker also emphasizes the potential harm from nutritional deficiencies that might arise from such a diet.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/autism-treatment/AN01519


There's no evidence that special diets, such as restricting certain foods, are an effective treatment for autism.

Autism is a complex brain disorder that has no known cure. For this reason, many frustrated parents turn to unproven alternative treatments in an attempt to help their children. The most popular of these alternative treatments are diets that eliminate gluten or casein, or both.

Proponents of restrictive diets believe that casein, a protein found in dairy products, and gluten, a protein found in many grains, affect brain development and behavior, causing autism in some children. However, there's no scientific evidence that this is true or that restricting these foods improves autism. Furthermore, restrictive diets can result in nutritional deficiencies in growing children.

Parents should talk to their child's doctor before starting any alternative autism treatment. Although no cure for autism exists, early behavioral and educational interventions can help children with autism improve their communication and social skills.