Tom's letter to the editor...

[Guest guest]

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Mandel_Michele/2008/03/17/5027301-sun.\

php

RE: " She has her detractors, but McCarthy's pseudo-science

has worked to 'cure' her child of autism; it might help yours, too "

Mon, March 17, 2008

Under what rock have you been living?

Study upon study upon study upon study has proven that Gluten Free

Casien Free diets work only for those with Celiac disease and that

autistics are no more likely to have Celiac Disease than anyone

else:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070501115240.htm

No Link Found Between Autism And Celiac Disease

American Academy of Neurology

Date: May 2, 2007

" Science Daily — Contrary to previous studies, autistic children are

no more likely than other children to have celiac disease, according

to new research that presented at the American Academy of

Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 -- May 5, 2007. "

Only today, the day that you assert your unsubstantiated opinion to

the contrary, a study was published which discounted everything you

touted in your poorly researched article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7300327.stm

Last Updated: Monday, 17 March 2008, 11:54 GMT

" Leaky gut autism theory doubted "

" The " leaky gut " theory is based in part on the idea that vaccines

such as MMR - given to immunise against measles, mumps and rubella -

damage the wall of the intestines.

" This causes the digestive problems which lead to the production of

peptides, the theory goes.

" To try to counter the effects of this, some parents of autistic

children then reduce the amount of proteins such as gluten - found

in wheat, oats, rye and barley - and casein - found in dairy

products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt - in their child's diet.

Looking for a cure

" But a team from Great Ormond Street Hospital, Guy's and St '

Hospital and the University of Edinburgh have found no evidence of a

higher level of peptides in the urine of autistic children.

<snip>

" Advocates of the leaky gut theory offer children a casein and

gluten-free diet which as yet lacks an evidence base. Our research

throws serious scientific doubt on the putative scientific basis of

that diet. "

The following study shows that the startling positive results

parents claim to have found with gluten-free diets in their autistic

kids are all in their heads, yet parents refused to believe that

their kids were not improving:

http://www.asatonline.org/suggreading/reviews/elder.htm

" Review of The gluten-free, casein-free diet in autism: Results of a

preliminary double blind clinical trial "

" The investigators conducted objective observations to see whether

there was any difference in how frequently children interacted and

communicated with others on the GfCf diet as compared to the placebo

diet. They also examined whether the GfCf diet changed parent

behaviors such as initiations of interactions and responses to the

child. Finally, they tested whether the diet altered urinary peptide

levels believed to be related to autism. Results showed no

significant differences between the GfCf diet and the placebo diet

on any of these variables.

" Interestingly, even after being informed of these disappointing

results, some parents opted to keep their child on the GfCf diet.

" Based on the results of this study, we recommend that

interventionists working with children with autism present the GfCf

diet as non-supported as a treatment for autism and advise parents

who are considering this intervention to evaluate it carefully.

You need to stick to the FACTS. Not some whispy anecdotal evidence

from parents who are influenced by fad treatments. Most of

the " cures " parents believe in can be explained this way:

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/532495/?sc=rsmn

" As Autism Diagnoses Grow, So Do Number of Fad Treatments "

" Another reason that fad treatments persist has to do with the

natural course of autism, Mulick said.

" Autism, like many conditions, has cycles in which symptoms get

worse and then get better. Parents tend to search for treatments

when symptoms are getting worse, and when their children get

better – as they do in the normal course of disease – parents credit

the new therapy. "

You can be sure your editor will be cc'd on this so that he is aware

that in this case, your " opinion " was potentially medically

dangerous despite this assertion of yours: " And if it takes a blond

ex-Playmate with a Google PhD to suggest it, at least this

prescription of hers won't cause harm. "

http://www.asatonline.org/resources/treatments/special.htm

" Additional study of the theoretical basis and efficacy of the GfCf

diet is warranted (Millward, Ferriter, Calver, & Connell-,

2004). There is a risk that removing gluten and casein from an

individial's diet will lead to inadequate nutrition, therefore,

dietary counseling is important for families who place their

children on the diet (Hyman & Levy, 2003 "

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:5p0q53jF-LoJ:www.cairn-

site.com/issues/issue_04.html+gluten+malnutrition+autism & hl=en & ct=clnk

& cd=1 & gl=ca

" Plasma amino acids profiles in children with autism: Potential

risk of nutritional deficiencies. "

" One of the problems is that children on it, or any other restricted

diet, can develop protein malnutrition. This study demonstrated

little difference between the rates of amino acid deficiency between

the children with autism although there were differences in which

amino acids were deficient. Both groups of children with autism had

some degree of amino acid deficiency, although the children on the

restricted diet showed a trend toward greater likelihood of

tryptophan deficiency. Only 1 of 24 children with developmental

delay but without autism had an amino acid deficiency. Amino acid

deficiencies were seen more often in the children with autism vs

controls. The deficiencies are likely due to poor nutrition in

general due to food selectivity, with deficiencies more likely to be

worse in children on a restricted diet. "

You really want to advise your readers that they should go

gluten-free when the most often side-effect of the diet is

protein-malnutrition? I would remind you that protein energy

malnutrition is what the children in sub-Saharan Africa have. How

about getting your head screwed on straight before you go firing off

an editorial like this? The potential for harm is too great for you

to be spouting off such nonsense to the masses.

[Guest guest]

Please let us know if you get a reply to this letter.

>

>

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Mandel_Michele/2008/03/17/50

27301-sun.php

>

> RE: " She has her detractors, but McCarthy's pseudo-science

> has worked to 'cure' her child of autism; it might help yours, too "

> Mon, March 17, 2008

>

> Under what rock have you been living?

>

> Study upon study upon study upon study has proven that Gluten Free

> Casien Free diets work only for those with Celiac disease and that

> autistics are no more likely to have Celiac Disease than anyone

> else:

>

> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070501115240.htm

>

> No Link Found Between Autism And Celiac Disease

>

> American Academy of Neurology

> Date: May 2, 2007

>

> " Science Daily — Contrary to previous studies, autistic children

are

> no more likely than other children to have celiac disease,

according

> to new research that presented at the American Academy of

> Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 -- May 5, 2007. "

>

> Only today, the day that you assert your unsubstantiated opinion to

> the contrary, a study was published which discounted everything you

> touted in your poorly researched article:

>

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7300327.stm

>

> Last Updated: Monday, 17 March 2008, 11:54 GMT

>

> " Leaky gut autism theory doubted "

>

> " The " leaky gut " theory is based in part on the idea that vaccines

> such as MMR - given to immunise against measles, mumps and rubella -

> damage the wall of the intestines.

>

> " This causes the digestive problems which lead to the production of

> peptides, the theory goes.

>

> " To try to counter the effects of this, some parents of autistic

> children then reduce the amount of proteins such as gluten - found

> in wheat, oats, rye and barley - and casein - found in dairy

> products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt - in their child's diet.

> Looking for a cure

>

> " But a team from Great Ormond Street Hospital, Guy's and St

'

> Hospital and the University of Edinburgh have found no evidence of

a

> higher level of peptides in the urine of autistic children.

>

> <snip>

>

> " Advocates of the leaky gut theory offer children a casein and

> gluten-free diet which as yet lacks an evidence base. Our research

> throws serious scientific doubt on the putative scientific basis

of

> that diet. "

>

> The following study shows that the startling positive results

> parents claim to have found with gluten-free diets in their

autistic

> kids are all in their heads, yet parents refused to believe that

> their kids were not improving:

>

> http://www.asatonline.org/suggreading/reviews/elder.htm

>

> " Review of The gluten-free, casein-free diet in autism: Results of

a

> preliminary double blind clinical trial "

>

> " The investigators conducted objective observations to see whether

> there was any difference in how frequently children interacted and

> communicated with others on the GfCf diet as compared to the

placebo

> diet. They also examined whether the GfCf diet changed parent

> behaviors such as initiations of interactions and responses to the

> child. Finally, they tested whether the diet altered urinary

peptide

> levels believed to be related to autism. Results showed no

> significant differences between the GfCf diet and the placebo diet

> on any of these variables.

>

> " Interestingly, even after being informed of these disappointing

> results, some parents opted to keep their child on the GfCf diet.

>

> " Based on the results of this study, we recommend that

> interventionists working with children with autism present the GfCf

> diet as non-supported as a treatment for autism and advise parents

> who are considering this intervention to evaluate it carefully.

>

> You need to stick to the FACTS. Not some whispy anecdotal evidence

> from parents who are influenced by fad treatments. Most of

> the " cures " parents believe in can be explained this way:

>

> http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/532495/?sc=rsmn

>

> " As Autism Diagnoses Grow, So Do Number of Fad Treatments "

>

> " Another reason that fad treatments persist has to do with the

> natural course of autism, Mulick said.

>

> " Autism, like many conditions, has cycles in which symptoms get

> worse and then get better. Parents tend to search for treatments

> when symptoms are getting worse, and when their children get

> better – as they do in the normal course of disease – parents

credit

> the new therapy. "

>

> You can be sure your editor will be cc'd on this so that he is

aware

> that in this case, your " opinion " was potentially medically

> dangerous despite this assertion of yours: " And if it takes a blond

> ex-Playmate with a Google PhD to suggest it, at least this

> prescription of hers won't cause harm. "

>

> http://www.asatonline.org/resources/treatments/special.htm

>

> " Additional study of the theoretical basis and efficacy of the GfCf

> diet is warranted (Millward, Ferriter, Calver, & Connell-,

> 2004). There is a risk that removing gluten and casein from an

> individial's diet will lead to inadequate nutrition, therefore,

> dietary counseling is important for families who place their

> children on the diet (Hyman & Levy, 2003 "

>

> http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:5p0q53jF-LoJ:www.cairn-

>

>

site.com/issues/issue_04.html+gluten+malnutrition+autism & hl=en & ct=clnk

> & cd=1 & gl=ca

>

> " Plasma amino acids profiles in children with autism: Potential

> risk of nutritional deficiencies. "

>

> " One of the problems is that children on it, or any other

restricted

> diet, can develop protein malnutrition. This study demonstrated

> little difference between the rates of amino acid deficiency

between

> the children with autism although there were differences in which

> amino acids were deficient. Both groups of children with autism

had

> some degree of amino acid deficiency, although the children on the

> restricted diet showed a trend toward greater likelihood of

> tryptophan deficiency. Only 1 of 24 children with developmental

> delay but without autism had an amino acid deficiency. Amino acid

> deficiencies were seen more often in the children with autism vs

> controls. The deficiencies are likely due to poor nutrition in

> general due to food selectivity, with deficiencies more likely to

be

> worse in children on a restricted diet. "

>

> You really want to advise your readers that they should go

> gluten-free when the most often side-effect of the diet is

> protein-malnutrition? I would remind you that protein energy

> malnutrition is what the children in sub-Saharan Africa have. How

> about getting your head screwed on straight before you go firing

off

> an editorial like this? The potential for harm is too great for you

> to be spouting off such nonsense to the masses.

>

>

>