“The brain needs omega-3 to function optimally,” says Ābele. “Everyone benefits from including good fats in the diet but especially children and adults with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, panic attacks and depression.”
Do not eat gluten
Dr. Adrien Eshraghi from the University of Miami believes that underlying pain can be one of the causes of behavioral problems in autistic children, resulting from gastrointestinal problems. “It’s understandable that if you have really bad stomach pain, and you can’t express yourself, this will be interpreted as inappropriate behavior,” he says.
One commonly used nutritional intervention that may help reduce this discomfort is the elimination of gluten. Dr. Eshraghi explains that some studies have shown that autistic children do not metabolize gluten properly, which ultimately affects the production of a vital chemical called glutathione that is involved in immune system function.
“Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant,” continues Dr. Eshraghi. “And we know that autistic children have a high level of oxidative stress and inflammation in their bodies, which contributes to these gastrointestinal issues. Getting rid of gluten can help the body produce more glutathione.”
Do not eat porridge
In addition to the GAPS diet, another diet regime that has been studied in autistic children is the so-called special carbohydrate diet. This is based on evidence that autistic children find it difficult to digest complex carbohydrates – such as oats and starchy vegetables such as potatoes – due to the composition of their gut microbiome.
“Complex carbohydrates are very difficult to digest for an unhealthy gut,” says Ābele.
She explains that because many of the body’s digestive enzymes don’t work properly, molecules that are by-products of undigested carbohydrates can float around in the large intestine where pathogenic bacteria ferment them into toxins.
Because many autistic children also suffer from leaky gut, where the small intestine is more permeable than it should be, these toxins pool back into the blood where they can eventually cause symptoms such as bloating or pain.
Ābele says that removing these carbohydrates, temporarily or permanently, can give the gut a chance to recover.
Do eat fermented foods
In addition to excluding complex carbohydrates, the GAPS diet also encourages the consumption of fermented foods that can be a natural source of probiotics, which can help shift the composition of the microbiome to a less inflammatory state.
“Fermented foods may have some benefit,” says Professor Adams. “There have been about 10 studies of probiotics, and they seem to help a little.
Are taking supplements
Several companies are already developing specific drugs that target the microbiome with the aim of reducing traits of irritability in autistic children, including aggression and tantrums, which researchers have suggested may be linked to the effects of leaky gut. A US company called Axial Therapeutics has developed an experimental product, which they describe as a tasteless and odorless powder that can be mixed with soft food and taken orally. It is designed to bind to toxins in the gut and help absorb them before they can leak back into the bloodstream. The company is currently testing it in ongoing clinical trials on autistic children in the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Dr Tallman Ruhm’s paper also noted how various research groups are investigating the potential benefits of various dietary supplements including vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate and carnitine for autistic people. Professor Adams says the carnitine research is based on growing interest in the role of mitochondria, the cellular powerhouses that generate energy, in autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions.
Over the past 12 years, scientists have accumulated various clues that suggest that mitochondria may function differently in some autistic people. A 2015 study by researchers at Drexel University College of Medicine found low levels of mitochondrial activity in a third of autistic children, and a 2016 research collaboration from Swiss, Belgian, Dutch and American scientists found that there may be an increased risk of people with mitochondrial disease. of autistic or autistic traits.
Carnitine is of interest, as it is one of the key nutrients for proper mitochondrial function, helping to transport fatty acids into mitochondria where they are used to generate energy. “We did a randomized, controlled study [in 2018] showing carnitine [along with a gluten-free, casein-free, and soy-free diet and other vitamin, mineral and fatty acid supplements] help for autistic children,” says Professor Adams. “Then the second study doubled the dose and gave supplements for twice as long and got even more benefit. For many autistic children, the mitochondria don’t work very well because of bad gut bacteria that produce toxins that poison them. So they need extra support to function and produce energy for the body and brain.”