Comment from the Luke Jackson lobby please? and from all who defend the witch-hunting cult group “GFCFKIDSUK” ?
Rochester : NY : USA | Jun 22, 2010
Parents of children with autism who have implemented the popular gluten-free and casein-free diet in the hope that it will help improve the symptoms associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders will now need to re-evaluate, after a tightly controlled study revealed there is absolutely no benefit.
It was previously claimed that the GFCF Autism Diet, made popular by Jenny McCarthy whose son is believed to have overcome autism, improved behaviour, bowel and sleep patterns in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. However, studies have frequently shown that no improvements are demonstrated and critics of the diet have expressed concern that childen on the diet have inadequate amounts of certain vitamins, calcium, iron and protein.
The study, undertaken by Susan Hyman, M.D., associate professor of Pediatrics at Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), saw controls imposed on different variables, such as behavioural treatments imposed to ensure that any improvements could be credited purely to dietary change. However, although some benefit was seen in a subgroup of children who had gastrointestinal problems, no other benefits were found.
The research was started in 2003, after widespread parent reported benefits. Although the study was on a very small scale, with only 22 participants aged between 2 and 6 years, the findings were marked and significant. Parents, teachers and researchers completed detailed observations and standardized surveys, yet no benefits were observed in terms of behaviour, attention span or sleep patterns when gluten and casein were introduced.
Alarmingly, previous concerns about potential health problems associated with a GFCF diet were confirmed. Hyman said, “This is really just the tip of the iceberg. There are many possible effects of diet including over- and under-nutrition, on behavior in children with ASD that need to be scientifically investigated so families can make informed decisions about the therapies they choose for their children.”
[ The link it came from www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6132224-us-study-reveals-gfcf-diet-has-no-benefit-for-children-with-autism has gone]
autistic groups fairness watch 