CASEIN-FREE

GLUTEN-FREE
DIET FOR AUTISM
Weronika Malinowska
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUurNmLaLKw
&feature=youtu.be

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why this diet?

GFCF diet

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 Incompletely digested
What is a GFCF diet? peptides may increase the
severity of autism-specific
behaviors
(González-Domenech et
GFCF al., 2019).
the exclusion of
gluten and
casein

Digestive-Immune Theory
of Autism
this population has increased intestinal
permeability and blood-brain barrier.
which would lead to further impairment of
the intestinal barrier with the passage of
peptides derived from the diet to the
bloodstream (González-Domenech et al.,
2019).
●
González-Domenech, P. J., Atienza, F. D., Pablos, C. G., Soto, M. L., Martínez-Ortega, J. M., & Gutiérrez-Rojas, L. (2019). Influence of a Combined Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Diet on Behavior
Disorders in Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A 12-Month Follow-Up Clinical Trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(3), 935-948. 4
doi:10.1007/s10803-019-04333-1
 What’s the big
deal?

What’s the big deal?

● Improvement in some behaviors
● Decrease in urinary peptides*
● Decrease in the number of epileptic seizures
● Accumulation of undigested peptides increases severity of
autism-specific behaviors* (González-Domenech et al., 2019).

González-Domenech, P. J., Atienza, F. D., Pablos, C. G., Soto, M. L., Martínez-Ortega, J. M., & Gutiérrez-Rojas, L.
(2019). Influence of a Combined Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Diet on Behavior Disorders in Children and
Adolescents Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A 12-Month Follow-Up Clinical Trial. Journal of
Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(3), 935-948. doi:10.1007/s10803-019-04333-1
*urinary peptides and
metabolism

Formed in the gut Autistic children have

from food proteins antibodies against
and absorbed in the gluten, gliadin, and
gut (Reichelt, Tveiten, casein (Reichelt,
Knivsbe Tveiten, Knivsberg, &
Brønstad, 2012)

People with autism

have increased gut
permeability which
leads to increased
uptake of peptides
(Gropper, Smith, &
Carr, 2018)

Gropper, S. S., Smith, J. L., & Carr, T. P. (2018). Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Reichelt, K., Tveiten, D., Knivsberg, A., & Brønstad, G. (2012, August 24). Peptides' role in autism with emphasis on exorphins.
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3747763/
DOES THIS DIET
WORK?

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 DOES THIS DIET
WORK?

AGE:
GENDER:
ALLERGIES:
LOCATION:
● 1990 and 1995 -Norway -
1 year and and 4 year ● 2010- randomized
follow-up study - ● 1999 UK - similar single-blind trial -
improvement in behavioral positive effects on
behaviors, decrease in improvements, no behavior and
urinary peptides change in urinary development for
(González-Domenech et levels of peptides the first year,
al., 2019). plateau after

1990 1999 2010

González-Domenech, P. J., Atienza, F. D., Pablos, C. G., Soto, M. L., Martínez-Ortega, J. M., & Gutiérrez-Rojas, L. (2019). Influence of a Combined Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Diet on Behavior Disorders in Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A
12-Month Follow-Up Clinical Trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(3), 935-948. oi:10.1007/s10803-019-04333-1 8
Piwowarczyk, A., Horvath, A., Łukasik, J., Pisula, E., & Szajewska, H. (2017). Gluten- and casein-free diet and autism spectrum disorders in children: A systematic review. European Journal of Nutrition, 57(2), 433-440. doi:10.1007/s00394-017-1483-2
 DOES THIS DIET
WORK?

● 2015 -controlled ● 2017 - case control

double blind placebo study - GFCF may
- no significant safely improve
● 2015 - double-blind
difference autsitc
placebo - no statistically
(Pusponegoro, manifestations and
significant effect on
Ismael, Firmansyah, could be
measures of physiologic
Sastroasmoro, & recommended for
functioning, behavior
Vandenplas, 2015) children with ASD.
problems, or autism
(El-Rashidy et al.,
symptoms.(Hyman,
2017)
Stewart, Foley, & Peck,
2015)

2015 2015 2017

El-Rashidy, O., El-Baz, F., El-Gendy, Y., Khalaf, R., Reda, D., & SAAd, K. (2017). Ketogenic diet versus gluten free casein free diet in autistic children: A case-control study. Retrieved December 14, 2020, from
https://link-springer-com.jpllnet.sfsu.edu/article/10.1007/s11011-017-0088-z

Hyman, S. L., Stewart, P. A., Foley, J., & Peck, R. (2015, September 5). The Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Diet: A Double-Blind Challenge ... https://www.autisme.qc.ca/assets/files/02-autisme-tsa/Recherche/The%20Gluten-Free_Casein-Free%20Diet.pdf

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Pusponegoro, H. D., Ismael, S., Firmansyah, A., Sastroasmoro, S., & Vandenplas, Y. (2015). Gluten and casein supplementation does not increase symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder. Acta Paediatrica, 104(11). doi:10.1111/apa.13108
truth or trend?

Is it safe?
yes

Is it feasible
yes

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the truth take away
points

● safe
● not a magic cure
● some studies
● not enough
statistical evidence
show minor
● minor improvements
improvements
● recent studies have
not been able to
duplicate results
from first
successful ones

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 REFERENCES

El-Rashidy, O., El-Baz, F., El-Gendy, Y., Khalaf, R., Reda, D., & SAAd, K. (2017). Ketogenic diet versus gluten free casein free diet in autistic children: A

case-control study. Retrieved December 14, 2020, from https://link-springer-com.jpllnet.sfsu.edu/article/10.1007/s11011-017-0088-z

González-Domenech, P. J., Atienza, F. D., Pablos, C. G., Soto, M. L., Martínez-Ortega, J. M., & Gutiérrez-Rojas, L. (2019). Influence of a Combined Gluten-Free and

Casein-Free Diet on Behavior Disorders in Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A 12-Month Follow-Up Clinical Trial.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(3), 935-948. doi:10.1007/s10803-019-04333-1

Gropper, S. S., Smith, J. L., & Carr, T. P. (2018). Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Hyman, S. L., Stewart, P. A., Foley, J., & Peck, R. (2015, September 5). The Gluten-Free/Casein-Free Diet: A Double-Blind Challenge ... Retrieved December 14, 2020, from

https://www.autisme.qc.ca/assets/files/02-autisme-tsa/Recherche/The%20Gluten-Free_Casein-Free%20Diet.pdf

Piwowarczyk, A., Horvath, A., Łukasik, J., Pisula, E., & Szajewska, H. (2017). Gluten- and casein-free diet and autism spectrum disorders in children: A systematic review. European Journal of Nutrition,

57(2), 433-440. doi:10.1007/s00394-017-1483-2

Pusponegoro, H. D., Ismael, S., Firmansyah, A., Sastroasmoro, S., & Vandenplas, Y. (2015). Gluten and casein supplementation does not increase symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Acta Paediatrica, 104(11). doi:10.1111/apa.13108

Reichelt, K., Tveiten, D., Knivsberg, A., & Brønstad, G. (2012, August 24). Peptides' role in autism with emphasis on exorphins. Retrieved December 14, 2020, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3747763/ 12
THANKS

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