Re: Diet Study

[Guest guest]

Interesting...

Here¹s the link...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807175440.htm

Diet And Autism Research Focuses On Which Foods May Affect Autistic Behavior

ScienceDaily (Aug. 9, 2008) ‹ Researchers at The University of Texas Health

Science Center at Houston have embarked on one of the first double-blind,

clinical studies to determine whether gluten and dairy products play a role

in autistic behavior as parents have anecdotally claimed.

The pilot study is one of seven current studies on autism in the Department

of Pediatrics and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at

The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. ³There¹s a lot of

misinformation, so that¹s why this study is so important,² said

Navarro, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the medical school and

lead investigator of the study. ³Hundreds and hundreds of parents think this

works but we need serious evidence.² Autism is a complex neurobehavioral

disorder linked to early abnormalities of brain development. According to

the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, it affects up

to six of every 1,000 children and is characterized by impaired social

interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication and unusual,

repetitive or severely limited activities and interests. Researchers have

discovered that there are differences in the central nervous system¹s

anatomy and function in those diagnosed with autism, but the cause of the

disorder is unknown. Experts theorize it may be a combination of genetics

and environment. ³A lot of children with autism have gastrointestinal

problems such as constipation and diarrhea. Whether these problems are

related to brain development is open to question,² said Loveland,

Ph.D., co-investigator and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences,

pediatrics and biomedical sciences at the health science center. ³There are

neurotransmitters and neuroreceptors in the gut that correspond with those

in the brain. There are some scientific reasons to think that some kids may

benefit from this diet.² For the double-blind study, funded in its initial

phase by supplemental funds granted by the Department of Pediatrics,

researchers will enroll 38 autistic children ages 3 to 9. They will look at

the influence of gluten and milk proteins in the intestinal function. Gluten

is a protein in wheat; casein and whey are proteins in milk. Casomorphin, a

peptide in milk; and gliadomorphin, a peptide in gluten, are thought to be

related to changes in behavior in these children. Children will be taken off

gluten and dairy products before the four-week study and then half will be

given gluten/milk powder and half will be given a placebo powder.

Researchers will study intestinal permeability (leaky gut) through urine

collection and behavior through psychometric testing. Co-investigators for

the study are J. Marc Rhoads, M.D., professor and director of

gastroenterology at the medical school, and Deborah A. Pearson, Ph.D.,

professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. Children will be enrolled

through the UT Physicians pediatric gastroenterology clinic and The

University of Texas Mental Sciences Institute. Navarro and Rhoads are

attending physicians at Memorial Hermann hospitals. For more information on

the study, call 713-500-5669.