Milk, Wheat-Free Diet Not Beneficial for Children with Autism

A new study presented this past Saturday at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Pennsylvania has found that removing milk and wheat products from the diets of children with autism does not help lessen symptoms. These modifications in diet were previously thought to improve behavioral, sleep and digestive problems in children with autism.

University of Rochester Medical Center researchers, led by Dr. Susan Hyman, looked at 22 children with autism between ages two and a half and five and a half for this small study. After eliminating rye, barley, wheat and milk products from the children’s diets for one month, some children were reintroduced to foods containing casein, found in milk products, or gluten, found in wheat products. Some children were given both milk and wheat products again, while some were given a placebo, containing no casein or gluten.

By the end of the four and a half month study, the research team found that of the 14 children that remained at the conclusion of the study, no change was seen in the sleep, behavioral or digestive patterns of the children.

Autism is a complex disorder of the nervous system that usually persists throughout a child’s lifetime. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one child out of every 150 is diagnosed with autism. If you believe your child’s autism may have been caused by medical negligence during birth, please call or e-mail the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. One of our experienced birth injury attorneys will evaluate your case for free. We have helped clients throughout New York, including those with Queens birth injury, Bronx birth injury, Brooklyn birth injury, Manhattan birth injury and Long Island birth injury cases.

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