Dairy-Free & Gluten-Free Diet

A gluten-free/casein-free (GFCF) diet avoids gluten, a protein found in grains, and casein, a protein found in dairy products. Some people believe GFCF diets may reduce symptoms of autism, although scientific studies have not supported the efficacy of this treatment.

Features

People on GFCF diets must avoid most bread products, grain products and packaged mixes, as well as most dairy products, including dairy-free and imitation-dairy products. Although following this diet can be very difficult, some stores have gluten-free sections, and vegetarian or vegan restaurants may serve GFCF dishes.

Considerations

A GFCF diet can cause deficiencies in vitamin D and calcium, which are found in dairy products, and vitamins and fiber, which are found in grain products. Talk to your child's doctor about strategies to avoid nutritional deficiencies.

Theory

In theory, autistic children process gluten and casein differently than most people, which causes autistic symptoms. Scientists have found abnormal levels of peptides, or amino acids, in some autistic children, according to WebMD.

Evidence

Anecdotal reports suggest that a GFCF diet can reduce autism symptoms, according to the National Institutes of Health. According to the University of Texas at Austin, however, an analysis of 15 scientific studies found that the use of GFCF diets to treat autism "is not supported by current research" and that many studies supporting GFCF diets suffered from methodological flaws.