Gluten-free diet and casein in Autism

Abstract

Introduction and objective: Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterized by atypical development, repetitive action patterns and impairment of social behavior, in addition to food selectivity. Proteins such as gluten and casein can cause changes in the metabolism of these individuals, modifying the function of the central nervous system through excessive opioid activity, which may worsen symptoms. This study aimed to carry out a systematic review of the effects of a gluten-free and casein-free diet on children and adolescents with autism. Materials and Methods: A systematic review conducted according to the PICO methodology was carried out in the Periódico CAPES, PubMed, Google Scholar and Scielo databases. Studies published in the last 10 years with the descriptors “autism gluten casein free” were selected. Discussion: Studies show that a gluten-free and casein-free diet can bring benefits to individuals, improving communication skills, behavior during meals and gastrointestinal symptoms. Results: 14 articles were selected. The present study suggests that there are negative and positive points related to the effects of implementing a gluten-free and casein-free diet. The studies found reported a decrease in behavioral symptoms. Only one study showed the possibility of causing adverse gastrointestinal effects and problems with adapting to the diet. However, most studies did not find benefits or improvement in symptoms after implementing the diet. Conclusions: The currently available evidence related to the effectiveness of a gluten-free and casein-free diet is limited and uncertain, and there is not enough scientific evidence to support its use.