Celiac.com 02/25/2026 - Families often ask whether removing gluten and dairy can improve symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder, especially when digestive symptoms or suspected food reactions are involved. Research on this topic has been mixed, partly because diet studies are difficult to design and people may change many things at once (not just one ingredient). The researchers aimed to add another layer of evidence by asking:

• Are some dietary factors linked to autism spectrum disorder risk when analyzed through genetics?
• In clinical practice, does a gluten-free and casein-free diet change autism-related symptom scores or immune reactions to milk and wheat?
• Could immune system markers help explain any observed links?

How the genetics-based analysis worked (explained simply)

The genetics portion used a method called Mendelian randomization. In plain language, this approach looks at inherited genetic variants that are associated with tendencies toward higher intake of certain foods. Because genes are assigned at conception, this method is sometimes used to reduce the impact of lifestyle confounding (for example, differences in income, health care access, or overall diet quality).

The authors tested many dietary factors and then highlighted a few foods that appeared to show genetic associations with autism spectrum disorder risk. They also emphasized an important limitation: these genetic estimates reflect long-term, lifelong tendencies tied to genetic predisposition, not the short-term effect of eating a food for a few days or weeks. The statistical uncertainty was also large for the strongest signals, meaning the true size of any effect could be much smaller (or different) than the point estimate suggests.

Main genetics findings

Among the many foods examined, the analysis suggested that a genetic tendency toward higher intake of wholemeal pasta and cheese spread was associated with a higher likelihood of autism spectrum disorder. In contrast, a genetic tendency toward higher banana intake was associated with a lower likelihood of autism spectrum disorder.

The study did not find clear evidence that blood ketone-related measures or food allergy status (in general) had a statistically strong genetic relationship with autism spectrum disorder in their primary tests, although the direction of some estimates suggested possible protective patterns that did not reach strong statistical certainty.

What the researchers found when they looked at real children in clinic records

The clinical portion was a retrospective study, meaning the researchers looked back at existing records rather than assigning children randomly to diets. They included 78 children aged 2 to 7 years who had autism spectrum disorder diagnoses. Families chose whether to follow a gluten-free and casein-free diet or continue a typical diet, which is important because family choice can introduce differences between groups that are hard to fully control.

The researchers compared changes over time in two types of outcomes:

• Autism symptom scoring using standard clinical rating tools
• Food-related immune response markers, specifically milk- and wheat-targeted immunoglobulin G levels

Symptom scores: no clear “winner,” but a trend

When the researchers adjusted for baseline differences and analyzed follow-up scores, they did not find a statistically strong difference between the diet groups for autism symptom scores. In other words, the data did not allow them to confidently say that the gluten-free and casein-free diet clearly improved core symptoms more than the usual diet.

However, the gluten-free and casein-free diet group showed a larger average improvement in symptom scores compared with the usual diet group. The authors interpreted this as a potentially meaningful trend that might become clearer in larger, better-controlled studies.

Immune markers: a stronger signal than symptom scores

The clearest clinical finding was that the gluten-free and casein-free diet group showed a significant reduction in milk-targeted and wheat-targeted immunoglobulin G levels over time compared with the usual diet group. In simple terms, the diet was associated with a measurable shift in these food-specific immune response markers.

This matters because it suggests that for at least some children, removing gluten and dairy proteins may change immune reactivity to those foods. Whether that immune change translates into consistent, clinically meaningful changes in autism-related behavior remains uncertain based on this dataset.

Possible explanation: immune pathways as a bridge between diet and symptoms

The researchers also explored whether certain immune features could help explain the association between cheese spread intake and autism spectrum disorder in the genetics-based analysis. Their mediation work pointed to immune-related markers that might partially connect the dietary factor signal to autism spectrum disorder risk. This does not prove a mechanism, but it supports the idea that immune activity could be part of the larger story for some individuals.

The authors discussed broader theories involving digestion, intestinal barrier function, food-derived peptides, immune activation, and gut microbiota changes. They also noted that dietary strategies are best viewed as supportive measures, not as stand-alone treatment for autism spectrum disorder.

Important limits to keep in mind

• Retrospective design: Families were not randomly assigned to diets, so motivation, resources, and other health changes could influence results.
• Small sample size: The clinical study was relatively small, making it harder to detect moderate effects on symptom scores.
• Genetics signals are not the same as short-term diet effects: A genetic tendency linked to a food pattern is not proof that eating that food directly causes autism spectrum disorder.
• Food-specific immunoglobulin G is complex: Changes in food-targeted immunoglobulin G levels may reflect exposure and immune response patterns, but do not automatically diagnose a harmful reaction in every person.

Why this could matter to people with celiac disease

Although this study focused on autism spectrum disorder, it touches on themes that are highly relevant to celiac disease: gluten exposure, immune responses to food proteins, and the possibility that dietary removal changes measurable immune markers and symptoms in some people. For individuals with celiac disease, gluten is not a lifestyle choice but a medical trigger that can cause intestinal injury and wide-ranging symptoms beyond digestion.

The main takeaway for the celiac community is not that gluten causes autism spectrum disorder, but that immune responses to dietary proteins can be measurable and meaningful in certain settings. This supports a broader, familiar concept in celiac care: dietary proteins can interact with the immune system in ways that may affect the whole body, not just the gut. It also reinforces a practical point: if someone suspects celiac disease, they should pursue proper medical testing and guidance before making long-term dietary changes, because diagnosis depends on correct timing and evaluation.

In short, this study adds to ongoing discussion about how diet and immune activity may intersect in complex conditions. For people with celiac disease, it is another reminder that food-triggered immune responses are real, measurable, and worth taking seriously, even when symptoms vary and are not limited to digestion.

Read more at: frontiersin.org

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Celiac.com 10/27/2025 - Parents and clinicians have long reported that children with autism often struggle with stomach and digestive problems. These problems range from abdominal pain and bloating to constipation and diarrhea. Many of these symptoms do not appear to have an obvious medical cause. While earlier research showed a link between autism and gastrointestinal problems, most of those studies were limited in size or time frame. This study set out to follow a large group of children over multiple years to see whether these problems continue as children grow and whether they influence other areas of life such as sleep, mood, or behavior.

How the Study Was Designed

The study included 475 children, with 322 diagnosed with autism and 153 with typical development. Participants were assessed at several time points between ages two and twelve. Physicians interviewed parents about nine common gastrointestinal issues, including abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, and swallowing difficulties. Importantly, children with known medical conditions like celiac disease, colitis, or diagnosed allergies were not counted in the group with unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms. This allowed the researchers to focus on unexplained digestive problems rather than those with a clear medical diagnosis.

In addition to gastrointestinal concerns, the study measured sleep, social communication, repetitive behaviors, emotional health, and sensory challenges. This broad view helped researchers understand not just whether digestive symptoms were common, but also how they might connect to other challenges children face.

What the Study Found

Children with autism had more gastrointestinal symptoms than their peers at every age point studied. Not only were these problems more frequent, but they were also more likely to be persistent, appearing across multiple years. Many children experienced more than one gastrointestinal problem at the same time, such as both constipation and abdominal pain.

The most commonly reported symptoms included constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and stomach pain. Nearly half of the children with autism had gastrointestinal symptoms at some point in the study, and many continued to have these problems over several years.

Links Between Digestive Symptoms and Behavior

One of the most important findings was the connection between digestive health and other aspects of a child’s well-being. Children with persistent gastrointestinal problems tended to have greater difficulties in multiple areas, including:

• Increased sleep problems, such as difficulty falling asleep or frequent waking
• More challenges with communication and social interaction
• Higher levels of repetitive and restrictive behaviors
• Greater sensory sensitivities
• Stronger emotional difficulties such as anxiety or irritability

The research suggests that gastrointestinal discomfort may contribute to or worsen behavioral and emotional challenges. For example, a child who cannot communicate stomach pain may show irritability, aggression, or changes in sleep, which can be mistakenly attributed only to autism itself rather than an underlying physical cause.

Why These Findings Matter

For parents, the study highlights the importance of paying close attention to digestive health in children with autism. Stomach discomfort is not always easy for children with communication difficulties to express, and symptoms may show up as behavior changes rather than direct complaints of pain. For doctors, the findings emphasize the need for regular screening and for taking parent concerns seriously, even if symptoms are vague or inconsistent.

The study also shows that treating gastrointestinal symptoms could improve overall quality of life. Improvements in sleep, communication, and mood may follow when underlying digestive problems are identified and managed. This underlines the value of a more holistic approach to care that looks at both behavioral and physical health.

What This Could Mean for People with Celiac Disease

Although children with diagnosed celiac disease were excluded from this study, the findings are still highly relevant. Both autism and celiac disease involve gastrointestinal problems that can persist without clear or immediate diagnosis. Just as untreated celiac disease can lead to long-term health and behavioral consequences, untreated gastrointestinal problems in autism appear to negatively affect overall well-being. For families affected by celiac disease, this research reinforces the broader point that digestive symptoms should never be ignored, even when the cause is unclear. It highlights the importance of proper evaluation, dietary management, and early intervention.

Conclusion

This long-term study demonstrates that children with autism are significantly more likely to experience ongoing gastrointestinal problems compared to their peers. These symptoms are not only persistent but also strongly tied to challenges with sleep, communication, behavior, and sensory processing. For parents and clinicians, the study offers a clear message: monitoring digestive health is crucial. For the celiac community, the research adds to the growing evidence that unresolved gastrointestinal issues have far-reaching effects and that identifying and managing them can play a vital role in improving quality of life.

Read more at: journals.sagepub.com

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Celiac.com 11/08/2023 - Autistic adults often face more significant health challenges than their non-autistic counterparts, as revealed by numerous epidemiological studies. Although this issue has been explored, research has mainly been confined to specific geographical areas and has centered on young autistic individuals aged 35 and under. 

Recent research points to a higher mortality rate in autistic people and less satisfactory self-reported healthcare experiences. A team of researchers recently set out to examine increased rates of chronic physical health conditions in autistic adolescents and adults. 

The research team included John H. Ward, Elizabeth Weir, Carrie Allison & Simon Baron-Cohen. They are variously affiliated with the Royal Devon University NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, Devon, UK; the University of Exeter Medical School, Devon, UK; the University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Oxford, UK; the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK; and the Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, Cambridge, UK.

Do Autistic Individuals Experience Higher Levels of Non-communicable Health Conditions?

The team's study aimed to answer two fundamental questions: Do autistic individuals experience higher levels of non-communicable health conditions, and if so, can these disparities be attributed to differences in demographics, lifestyle factors, and family medical history?

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional, convenience-sampling study through an anonymous online survey, which included over 2300 participants comprising both autistic and non-autistic adults, with roughly half being autistic. The survey collected self-reported data on demographics, autism diagnosis, lifestyle factors (like diet, exercise, sleep, substance use), personal medical history, and family medical history (for all first-degree, biological relatives).

They used binomial logistic regression models of increasing complexity and employed the Benjamini–Hochberg correction to mitigate multiple testing effects. The study analyzed physical health conditions, considering only those with at least 1% endorsement within the sample to reduce the risk of Type I errors. Additionally, they used network analysis methods to explore the presence of multiple health conditions (multi-morbidity) in both autistic and non-autistic individuals.

The study uncovered significantly higher rates of non-communicable health conditions across various organ systems in autistic individuals. These systems included the gastrointestinal, neurological, endocrine, visual, ear/nose/throat, skin, liver and kidney, and hematological systems. This study confirmed previous findings of notable differences in neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms between autistic and non-autistic individuals. The study also found a higher prevalence of celiac disease among autistic individuals compared to non-autistic individuals after controlling for sex, ethnicity, country of residence, alcohol use, smoking, and BMI, however, these results became non-significant after accounting for family history.

Furthermore, this study, the largest to date, identified a higher likelihood of Ehler-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) in autistic females, compared to their non-autistic counterparts. Notably, the research also revealed higher rates  of celiac disease among autistic individuals, even after considering demographic factors such as sex, ethnicity, and country of residence. However, this difference became statistically insignificant when accounting for family history.

In essence, the study underscores that autistic adults face disparities in non-communicable health conditions compared to their non-autistic peers. The findings demonstrate the need for tailored healthcare and interventions to address these disparities and improve the overall health and well-being of autistic individuals.

Read more in Molecular Autism volume 14, Article number: 35 (2023

Celiac.com 02/28/2020 - Because therapies for people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are limited, alternative approaches, including dietary treatments, such as gluten-free and casein-free diets receive a good deal of attention from people looking for ways to improve the condition. However, the data so far have not shown the gluten-free diet to be effective in changing behavior in people with autism spectrum disorder.

A team of researchers recently set out to assess the effects of a gluten-free and casein-free diet on behavior disorders in children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and to look at the possible connection with levels of urinary beta-casomorphin. 

The research team included Pablo José González-Domenech, Francisco Díaz Atienza, Carlos García Pablos, María Luisa Fernández Soto, José María Martínez-Ortega, and Luis Gutiérrez-Rojas. They are variously affiliated with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, Spain; the Department of Psychiatry, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; the Department of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; the Psychiatry Service, Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, Granada, Spain; and the CTS-549 Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience, Granada, Spain.

Their team enrolled thirty-seven patients for the crossover trial. Each patient ate both a normal diet that included gluten and casein for 6 months, and a gluten-free and casein-free diet for another 6 months. 

The diets were assigned randomly, so half of patients began with gluten-free diet, and half began with regular diet, then the two switched at six months. The team assessed patients at the beginning of the study, after the normal diet and after the gluten-free and casein-free diet.

At each time period, the team measured urinary beta-casomorphin concentration, and  patients completed questionnaires regarding behavior, autism and dietary adherence. 

The team found no significant behavioral changes and no connection with urinary beta-casomorphin concentrations after six months of gluten-free and casein-free diet. 

The 6-month gluten-free and casein-free diet led to no significant changes in behavioral symptoms of autism spectrum patients, and no changes to urinary beta-casomorphin levels. 

The team is not saying definitively that gluten-free and casein-free diets don't help some patients with autism spectrum disorder, but they are calling for further studies with a long follow-up period similar to ours and including placebo and blinding elements to help to identify patients who might improve on gluten-free and casein-free diets.

Read more in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders volume 50, pages 935–948 (2020)

Celiac.com 11/18/2019 - So far, the little research that's been done suggests that a gluten-free diet does not help to improve to improve the functioning of children with autism spectrum disorders. 

A team of researchers recently conducted a randomized, controlled, single-blinded trial to see if children with autism spectrum disorders showed any difference in functioning on a gluten-free diet compared with a gluten-containing diet.

The research team included Anna Piwowarczyk, Andrea Horvath, Ewa Pisula, Rafał Kawa, and Hania Szajewska. They are variously affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics with Clinical Assessment Unit at The Medical University of Warsaw in Warsaw, Poland; the Department of Pediatrics at The Medical University of Warsaw in Warsaw, Poland; and the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Psychology, Faculty of Psychology at the University of Warsaw in Warsaw, Poland.

Their team assessed a total of sixty-six children with autism spectrum disorders, within normal IQ range, above  70, who had been on a gluten-free diet for at least two months before enrollment. 

After continuing a gluten-free diet for two-months, the gluten-free diet group continued this diet, while the gluten-containing diet group consumed at least one normal meal containing gluten per day for 6 months. 

At the end of the trial period, the two groups showed no differences in autistic symptoms, maladaptive behaviors, or intellectual abilities. In this study, children with autism spectrum disorders eating a gluten-free diet did not show any significant signs of improved functioning compared with those who ate a gluten-containing diet.

These results confirm the results of an earlier, similar study from 2015.

So, the takeaway here is that a gluten-free diet does not improve functionality in patients with autism spectrum disorder.

Read more at: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, October 2019

Celiac.com 10/08/2018 - A new population based study reveals that celiac disease is associated with a wide range of medical conditions, including liver disease, glossitis, pancreatitis, Down syndrome, and autism, according to a database study of more than 35 million people.

Moreover, people with autism have celiac disease at rates almost 20 times higher than in those without autism, reported lead investigator Daniel Karb, MD, a second-year resident at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland. That raises the question of whether people with autism should be screened for celiac disease, and whether they might benefit form a gluten-free diet.

"If you have a patient who is autistic and they have all these unusual symptoms, you might want to screen them for celiac disease," Dr. Karb told the World Congress of Gastroenterology last year. It is known that there are unusual symptoms of celiac disease, which include anything outside the classic symptoms of malabsorption, steatorrhea, malnutrition, abdominal pain, and cramping after eating, "but this is putting numbers to it," said Dr Karb.

For their study, Karb and his fellow researchers used the Explorys database to pull health record data from 26 major integrated healthcare systems in the United States. Their search covered the period from 2012 to 2017. Of 35,854,260 people in the database, they found 83,090 with diagnosed celiac disease.

Overall, the age-adjusted prevalence of celiac disease in that group was 0.22%, which is much lower than the 1% to 2% range previously estimated.

Those numbers are not unusual, said Dr. Karb says that the researchers “don't think there are fewer people with celiac disease, just that it may be under-diagnosed.” The rates are, he says, “what you might expect when you screen asymptomatic people." 

Overall, the team found a significant connection between celiac disease and 13 other autoimmune disorders, such as type 1 diabetes, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. Moreover, celiac disease is associated with every autoimmune disease the team looked at, except for primary biliary cholangitis, Dr Karb says.

This is some pretty startling study data. We knew that celiac disease was linked to other autoimmune conditions, and there has been some surprising data about gluten-free diets helping patients with autism, but these numbers are enlightening. It seems that people with autism should definitely be screened for celiac disease, and placed a gluten-free diet, if tests confirm celiac disease.

Stay tuned for more information on this important celiac disease topic.

Source:

•  World Congress of Gastroenterology 2017

Celiac.com 11/04/2016 - NIH has awarded a $3 Million grant to Dr. Betty Diamond, head of the Feinstein Institute's Center for Autoimmune and Musculoskeletal Diseases, and her colleague, Dr. Peter Gregersen, who heads the Feinstein Institute's Robert S. Boas Center for Genomics & Human Genetics, specifically to explore the relationship between a mother's autoimmunity during pregnancy and the risk of ASD in her child. Both are also researchers at the Northwell Health System's Manhasset-based R&D division.

Doctors Diamond and Gregerson are following up their own previous studies that showed antibodies can lead to abnormal brain development and ASD symptoms.

Also known as 'immunoglobulins,' antibodies are Y-shaped proteins produced mainly by plasma cells, white blood cells that can secrete large volumes of antibodies, and which the immune system uses to identify and neutralize pathogens including bacteria and viruses.

The new study seeks to determine if increased levels of antibodies in pregnant women with autoimmune inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or celiac disease, leave these women at increased risk of having children on the autism spectrum.

Titled "Prenatal Autoimmune and Inflammatory Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorders," the new study will track 4,500 women who deliver babies at hospitals in the Northwell Health system, along with their babies, for two years.

Participating mothers will receive a blood test during pregnancy to spot any potential autoimmune disease or diseases, and also to spot any elevations in immune activation, or in cell-signaling cytokine proteins.

The research team will then monitor the children for signs of ASD. While researchers have already determined that autism spectrum disorders are at least partly influenced by genetics, "relatively little attention has been paid to the role of environment, and particularly the intrauterine environment," says to Gregersen.

This research will help researchers to better understand the connections between a mother's autoimmunity levels during pregnancy, and the risk of later ASD in her child.

Source:

• Open Original Shared Link

Celiac.com 09/21/2015 - A gluten-free diet does nothing to improve behaviors or symptoms of children with autism, according to the results of a study that, though small, is being called the most comprehensive and carefully controlled diet research in autism to date. The study results appear in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

The study was conducted by Dr. Susan Hyman and colleagues at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Dr, Hyman is the division chief of neuro-developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the University of Rochester's Kirch Developmental Services Center, which sees some 1,200 children with autism each year.

For the study, a group of preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) received a gluten-free, casein-free (Gluten-free Casein-free) diet.

Hyman's study enrolled 22 children between 2 ½- and 5 ½-years-old. Fourteen children completed the intervention, which was planned for 18 weeks for each family. The families had to strictly adhere to a gluten-free and casein-free diet and participate in early intensive behavioral intervention throughout the study. Children were screened for iron and vitamin D deficiency, milk and wheat allergies and celiac disease. One child was excluded because of a positive test for celiac disease and one was excluded for iron deficiency. Other volunteers who were excluded were unable to adhere to the study requirements. The children's diets were carefully monitored throughout the study to make sure they were getting enough vitamin D, iron, calcium, protein and other nutrients.

After four weeks of being established on diet, the children continued on the diet and were given snacks weekly that contained gluten, casein, neither or both.

In addition to administering a gluten-free casien-free diet, the research team received a full complement of nutrients, such as vitamin D, calcium, iron and high quality protein, which can be lacking in children on gluten-free, casein-free diets.

The kids were given a snack once weekly with either 20 grams of wheat flour, 23 grams of non-fat dried milk, both, or neither until every child received each snack three times. Snacks were carefully engineered to look, taste and feel the same, and were given randomly with no knowledge by staff, families or children.

Parents, teachers and a research assistant filled out standardized surveys about the child's behavior the day before they received the snack, at two and 24 hours after the snack.

However, none of the diet and snack combinations affected children's sleep, bowel habits, or activity.

The team did observe a small increase in the number of times children engaged in social interaction after eating food containing gluten or casein, but this increase did not reach statistical significance. A similar small increase in social language seen after the gluten challenge also did not reach statistical significance.

The team cites the need for larger studies that appropriately monitor for diet and other interventions to determine whether gluten or casein affects social interaction or language among other children with ASD, such as children with gastrointestinal (GI) disease.

For families who wish to eliminate gluten and casein from their child's diet need, the team points out the importance of carefully monitoring the autistic child's nutritional status.

Sources:

• Open Original Shared Link
• Open Original Shared Link
• Open Original Shared Link

Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Research Center, Golisano Children's Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York

Research Supported By: National Institutes for Mental Health (Studies to Advance Autism Research in Treatment) NIMH U54 MH077397 and the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) NIH UL1RR024160

A team of researchers recently set out to examine the association between ASDs and celiac disease according to small intestinal histopathologic findings.

The research team included Jonas F. Ludvigsson; Abraham Reichenberg; Christina M. Hultman; and Joseph A. Murray. They are variously affiliated with the Department of Medicine, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, and the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, with the Department of Pediatrics at Orebro University Hospital, Orebro University in Orebro, Sweden, with the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of the Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, with the Department of Psychosis Studies at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College in London, United Kingdom, and with the Department of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, New York.

For their nationwide case-control study, the researchers used 28 Swedish biopsy registers to gather data on approximately 26,995 individuals with celiac disease, which they defined as the presence of villous atrophy, Marsh stage 3.

They found 12,304 patients with inflammation (Marsh stages 1-2), 3719 patients with normal mucosa (Marsh stage 0), but positive celiac results for IgA/IgG gliadin, endomysium, or tissue transglutaminase. They then compared these results against and results for 213,208 age- and sex-matched control subjects. The team used conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for prior ASD diagnosis according to the Swedish National Patient Register and then conducted a second analysis, using Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for future ASDs in individuals undergoing small intestinal biopsy.

They found that previous ASD was not associated with celiac disease (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.51-1.68) or inflammation (OR 1.03; 95% CI, 0.40-2.64). However, they did finds that previous ASD was associated with a sharp higher risk of having normal mucosa but positive serologic test result for celiac disease (OR, 4.57; 95% CI, 1.58-13.22).

Once the team restricted the data to individuals without no diagnosis for ASD at the time of biopsy, they found that celiac disease (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.13-1.71) and inflammation (HR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.29-3.13) were both connected with slightly higher risks of later ASDs, compared against the HR of 3.09 (95% CI, 1.99-4.80) for later ASDs in individuals with normal mucosa but positive celiac disease serologic test results.

Even though this study showed no connection between previous ASD and celiac disease or inflammation, it did show that individuals with normal mucosa, but positive blood screens for celiac disease, have a much higher risk of ASD.

Source:

• Open Original Shared Link

Celiac.com 07/24/2013 - Gastrointestinal symptoms are a common feature in children with autism, drawing attention to a potential association with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

So far, studies of the immune response to gluten in autistic individuals, along with its association with celiac disease have produced inconsistent data.

A team of researchers recently set out to assess immune reactivity to gluten in children diagnosed with autism according to strict criteria, and to evaluate the potential link between autism and celiac disease.

The research team included Nga M. Lau, Peter H. R. Green, Annette K. Taylor, Dan Hellberg, Mary Ajamian, Caroline Z. Tan, Barry E. Kosofsky, Joseph J. Higgins, Anjali M. Rajadhyaksha, and Armin Alaedini.

For their study, the team assessed 37 children (with or without gastrointestinal symptoms) diagnosed with autism according to both the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R), 27 unaffected siblings, and 76 age-matched healthy controls.

They then tested blood specimens for antibodies to native gliadin, deamidated gliadin, and transglutaminase 2 (TG2). They then genotyped all children with positive antibody tests for celiac disease associated HLA-DQ2 and -DQ8 alleles.

The team found that children with autism had substantially higher levels of IgG antibodies compared with unrelated healthy controls (p<0.01). The IgG levels were also higher compared to the unaffected siblings, but were not statistically significant. Autistic children with gastrointestinal symptoms showed significantly greater IgG anti-gliadin antibody response, compared to those without them (p<0.01). All groups showed similar IgA response to gliadin across groups.

Both study subjects and control subjects ahd similar levels of celiac disease-specific serologic markers, i.e., antibodies to deamidated gliadin and TG2. The researchers found no association between increased anti-gliadin antibody and presence of HLA-DQ2 and/or -DQ8.

Some children with autism do show a type of increased immune reactivity to gluten which appears to be different from celiac disease.

The increased anti-gliadin antibody response and its association with GI symptoms suggests that these children may suffer from immunologic and/or intestinal permeability abnormalities.

Source:

• Open Original Shared Link

Recent discoveries indicates that one-third or more cases of autism look to be a kind of inflammatory disease, which begins well before birth.

In the August 25th issue of the New York Times, Moises Velasquez-Manhoff has very interesting article in which he discusses the widening view among researchers that autism is, in fact, an inflammatory disease. The article is long and comprehensive, and cites numerous studies, findings and experiments.

Inflammation is the body's natural response to certain kinds of threats. In a normal body, the immune system uses inflammation in a very precise, targeted way, before returning to a normal state.

In autistic individuals, inflammatory signals become the dominant condition, and there is no balancing anti-inflammatory response. A state of chronic inflammation becomes normal. And the more skewed toward inflammation, the more acute the autistic symptoms.

This inflammatory deregulation adversely impacts the brains of autistic individuals. Velasquez-Manhoff also cites a number of studies that trace these inflammatory effects back to the inflammatory responses of the mother during pregnancy.

Among the studies cited in the article is a population-wide study from Denmark spanning two decades of births, which indicates that infection during pregnancy increases the risk of autism in the child. The study found that hospitalization for a viral infection, like the flu, during the first trimester of pregnancy triples the odds of autism. Bacterial infection, including of the urinary tract, during the second trimester increases chances by 40 percent.

Another large Danish study, which included nearly 700,000 births over a decade, found that a mother’s rheumatoid arthritis, a degenerative disease of the joints, elevated a child’s risk of autism by 80 percent. Rates of autism in children of mothers with celiac disease were 350 percent higher than normal. Genetic studies had similar findings. Variations in genes associated with regulating the immune system also increase the risk of autism, especially when they occur in the mother.

A mother’s diagnosis of asthma or allergies during the second trimester of pregnancy increases her child’s risk of autism. So does metabolic syndrome, a disorder associated with insulin resistance, obesity and, crucially, low-grade inflammation.

Yet, viral and bacterials infections themselves do not seem the cause of the autism epidemic. The epidemiology doesn’t support that conclusion.

A far more likely culprit is maternal immune dysregulation. Basically, the mother’s attempt to repel invaders, her inflammatory response, seems to be at fault. Research by Paul Patterson, an expert in neuroimmunity at Caltech, supports this idea. In his research, he introduces inflammation in pregnant mice artificially, without a live infection. This causes behavioral problems in the young. In this model, autism results from collateral damage. It’s an unintended consequence of self-defense during pregnancy.

Since infantile autism was first described by Leo Kanner in 1943, diagnoses have risen tenfold. During that same period, viral and bacterial infections generally declined. However, overall rates of inflammatory diseases have risen sharply since then.

As a group, these diseases include asthma, now estimated to affect 1 in 10 children, rates that have at least doubled since 1980, along with autoimmune disorders, which now afflict 1 in 20.

Recently, William Parker at Duke University has chimed in. Some years back, he began comparing wild sewer rats with clean lab rats. The bodies of wild rats tightly controlled inflammation, but those of the lab rats did not. Parker found that the bodies of the wild rats contained high levels of parasites. Parasites are noted for limiting inflammation.

One lesson from these rodent experiments is that fixing the maternal dysregulation will most likely prevent autism. That theory is supported by Swiss researchers, who created a lineage of mice with a genetically reinforced anti-inflammatory signal. They then inflamed the pregnant mice. The babies emerged fine, with no behavioral problems. This suggests that if inflammation is controlled during pregnancy, it won’t interfere with fetal brain development.

Interestingly, asthma researchers are coming to similar conclusions: preventing inflammation in pregnant women will likely prevent asthma.

Dr. Parker has introduced a more aggressive approach. He suggests that by using specially developed worms to restore “domesticated” parasites doctors can correct immune dysregulation.

To determine if this is feasible, a trial is under way at the Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The trial is using a medicalized parasite called Trichuris suis, known as a whipworm, to treat autistic adults.

The whipworm is native to pigs, and was first used medically to treat inflammatory bowel disease. It has shown anecdotal benefit in autistic children.

The article suggests that the future of treating immune dysregulation, and thus preventing diseases like autism and asthma, may lie in reintroducing parasites into the human body. Stay tuned for more updates on this truly fascinating science.

Read the full article by Moises Velasquez-Manhoff in the Open Original Shared Link.

Other studies support the idea of using various factors, including gastrointestinal (GI) abnormalities and immune function to classify children diagnosed with ASDs

Medical researchers Christine M. Pennesi, and Laura Cousino recently examined the effectiveness of the gluten-free, casein-free diet for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. They are affiliated with the Department of Biobehavioral Health at the Pennsylvania State University in Pennsylvania, USA.

For their study, Pennesi and Cousino presented a 90-question online survey to parents or primary caregivers of children diagnosed with ASD. The survey asked about the efficacy of the Gluten-free Casein-free diet. The survey included questions about the children's GI symptoms, food allergy diagnoses, and suspected food sensitivities, as well as the degree and length of their dietary regime. In all, they received 387 responses.

Parents who reported GI symptoms, food allergy diagnoses, and suspected food sensitivities also reported greater improvement in ASD behaviors, physiological symptoms, and social behaviors, compared with parents who reported symptoms, diagnoses, or sensitivities in their children (P < 0.05).

Parents who reported strict diet adherence, full gluten/casein elimination and infrequent diet errors during and outside of parental care, also reported improvement in ASD behaviors, physiological symptoms, and social behaviors, compared with parents who reported less strict adherence, incomplete gluten/casein elimination, and more frequent diet errors during and outside of parental care (P < 0.05).

The full report appears in Nutritional Neuroscience. There, the authors write that findings suggest that diet adherence and GI and immune factors may help to differentiate diet responders from diet non-responders. They also suggest that the findings support the importance of further investigations into the various factors that influence efficacy of treatment in children with ASDs.

Source:

• Open Original Shared Link