There is a growing number of parents who swear by a gluten-free, casein-free diet for their autistic children. They believe accumulated toxins in the blood stream that occur because of the body’s inability to properly digest gluten and casein (a dairy-specific protein) are a large part of what aggravates the symptoms of autism.
The link between diet and any physical symptom or condition is almost impossible to prove because there are so many variables to take into account. Unless the reaction to the food is immediate, researchers are reluctant to definitively state that food is the cause of the reaction.
Recent research into the link between diet and autism at the Pfeiffer Treatment Centre in the U.S. was found that some of the antibodies found in people with Celiac Disease are also present in children with autism. This link supports the theory that autism is an autoimmune disorder, rather than a neurological one.
While the findings are preliminary, it does suggest that there is in fact some evidence to support the theory that autism can be managed through diet. For people with Asperger’s, it would be worth exploring how diet can affect symptoms.
Good thoughts. I never would have thought of the problem from this angle.