Autism is a neurological disorder that impairs

• thinking
• feeling
• social functioning

It typically appears during the first 3 years of life and can range in severity and symptoms, from mild to devastatingly severe impairment.

A small study conducted by US-based researchers is providing preliminary scientific support to the idea that changes in diet can improve symptoms in some people with autism.

Heredity is thought to play a major role in the disease. Dr. Ted Kniker has been investigating the theory that poorly degraded food proteins leak from the gut into the blood, having a drug-like effect that changes brain activity.

In the first part of his study, Kniker, of the San Antonio Autistic Treatment Center in Texas, found that 5 out of 28 children and adults with autism showed improvements in their symptoms after elimination of dairy products and wheat glutens from their diets.

In the second part of the study, the researchers eliminated several other foods, including buckwheat, soy products, tomato, pork and grapes from the patients' diets.

Symptoms changed dramatically in 39.3% of patients during the second phase of the 3-month intervention period. Eight out of 28 patients showed clear improvements, as measured by a variety of quantitative scoring methods, including the Autistic Treatment Evaluation Checklist.

Kniker argues that autism is not usually a defect in brain development, but is more likely to be a brain dysfunction that is secondary to extraneous factors, such as dietary factors, immune dysfunctions, infections or toxins.

Kniker cautioned that standard behavior management, psychological and educational approaches to the treatment of autism will still be necessary, because improvements in cognition and mood can lead to new stresses and demands on patients.

In Kniker's previous study, some individuals who showed improvements in brain function showed deterioration in behavior, as they found it hard to deal with these dramatic changes.

Kniker will present his findings at a meeting in Sicily at the end of June.

Reuters June 13, 2001

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Although this research is not yet published, it is encouraging to see other investigators confirming what I find in my own clinical practice. To say that implementing these changes is difficult would be a major understatement. It is very clear though, that in the vast majority of cases, the results certainly justify the efforts. I am continuously amazed though at how many "natural oriented clinicians" who treat autism, restrict their approach to limiting milk and wheat (gluten and casein-free). Most of the new autistic patients I see are already doing this and have noticed a fair measure of improvement. However, when ALL the grains and potatoes are removed, in addition to ALL fluids but water (no rice milk, soy milk or ANY fruit juices, even diluted) there is usually another quantum level of improvement in the child's progression out of autism. The central focus though is to IDEALLY implement these dietary changes prior to the age of three. It seems the older the child is over the age of three, the less beneficial the response to the dietary changes appears to be. The dietary approach I have been using with autism is certainly more restrictive than Dr. Kniker's. However, I plan on contacting him soon to explore some collaborative research. Related Articles: Autism Epidemic Continues to Expand In California We Are In the Midst of An Autism Epidemic Autism and Mercury