Please see Dybiosis and Autism for more information

Almost 100% of children with ASD have some food-related problems. This can take the form of

True allergy eg. Peanuts - causes wheezing or hives, anaphylaxis. Skin tests.

Food Intolerance eg. Gluten, casein, soy - GI distress, behavior. Blood test (RAST)

Peptide-uria Leaky gut - behaviour. Urine/blood tests (Chromatography)

Incomplete digestion of proteins from the diet ( gluten and/ or casein ) leads to an increase in peptides ( the -morphins ) in the blood. These cross the blood-brain barrier and switch ‘on’ the opioid receptors.

The child becomes a drug-addict, habituated to these -morphins and seeking them out at every opportunity to get a ‘fix’.

The more a child craves a particular food, the more likely he/ she is to be getting this ‘fix’ from that food.

90% of children with ASD have increased peptide levels in the blood

The sooner a child can be started on a Gluten-free and/ or a Casein-free diet, the better. If they have this food intolerance - every mouthful of that food is further damaging their brain.

A GF or CF diet must be 100% gluten and/or casein - free. And some children are intolerant of Soy as well …

The best sequence is as follows:

1. Casein withdrawal - you should see improvement within 3 weeks - if so

Continue, if not - stop.

Then

2. Gluten withdrawal - this may need up to 3 months to take effect. Children may show increased stimming behaviour at first - this is a good sign ! Try to tolerate it.

Time of response may be as short as a few days in

children below 5 years of age, months in older children.

Also, the condition of the gut and presence or absence of dysbiosis may affect time needed.

As before - if improved - continue; if not - stop.

Then

3. Allergy elimination - allergy screen ( blood test ) or trial and error

Then

Digestive enzymes

Yeast - free diet

Grain - free diet

And finally

Specific Carbohydrate Diet ( SCD )

The SCD involves allowing only mono - saccharides ( short chain sugars) such as honey and fruit sugars. This ‘starves’ out harmful bacteria and yeasts and is best accompanied by Pro-biotics.

Secrenase™ ( Secretin )

Changes within the cells of the small intestine render the environment within the bowel hostile to many ( favourable ) bacteria and favour the growth of other ( toxin-producing ) bacteria.

Secretin returns the gut pH to more normal levels which in turn gives the anaerobic bacteria their notice to quit. As they go, peptide levels begin to fall and the blood and ultimately brain peptide levels reduce.

www.bioscreen.com.au   Contact details for testing for peptides/bacteria

www.glutenfree.com/autism.htm  Gluten and Casein Diets and Autism