Comments on: Journal Says No Proof Special Diets Help Autistic Children

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:52:10 +0000

My Grandson has autism and switching him to a casin free, gluten free diet made a world of difference. I do not think the medical profession has any interest in making someone well, or they would be all over the possibilities of health through diet. Obviously, the media is bought and sold down the river and does nothing to investigate a story!!

By: Cheryl Black

Cheryl Black — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:21:15 +0000

I am a mom of a 6 year old Autistic boy and who ever says diet doesn’t work they are so wrong…..It may take more time for the actual effects of a diet change to actually work, like in the case of my son where it took almost 3 weeks, but his bad behaviors have calmed down alot with fewer outburst and less screaming than before when everything was to be scream about…if one would consider that some foods act like toxins to the body, much like an allergic reaction, then you can see how food can indeed be a factor in Autism…

By: Tracee

Tracee — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:25:04 +0000

Our child had gi problems since one week of age but normal, by age 2 he was autistic. I had heard trying the diet was “Dangerous”. So I did lots of research before we tried it. Three weeks into the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, his speech and motor skills came back overnight. I noticed that my autoimmune symptoms were better on his diet and a year later I was diagnosed with Celiacs and Crohn’s disease. Those who are trying to maintain that the diets don’t help anyone are corrupt and have other motives. SOME OF THESE KIDS AND THIER PARENTS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER ON THE DIET. ANYONE WITH AUTISM, ADHD OR AUTOIMMUNITY should rule out dietary problems. The research is out there, they know people will just read a headline and not look any further. You owe it to yourself and you loved ones to dig further and get the facts.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:12:49 +0000

Wow — this is what journalism has come to? A shrill woman (Jenny McCarthy — remind me why she is famous?) asking that specialists listen to her? How about all of the scientific studies that have been conducted that are helping us to understand prevalence issues as well as useful v non-useful treatments — do they only count if their conclusions match up with Jenny’s experience?
Parents who believe these diets work should continue them, by all means. Parents who are curious should be aware of the science, and might also want to do their own experiments with their children. In my experience working with parents of children with autism, they feel pressure to provide these time-consuming, unpalatable diets for their children, even though they see little to no change in their kids. Some of them are dying for a way to get off the hook, and this study provides solid relief for them. I will be spreading this news.

By: Denice Dir

Denice Dir — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:11:14 +0000

I agree with all of the parents who have posted success with the GFCF diets…I am one of them. It was the most horrible day in my life when someone told me that my daughter might have neurological problems and might possibly be in the autistic spectrum. In the following days, I read so much that my eyes hurt– I was extremely scared. Then I read Jenny Mc Carthy’s book. I read it cover to cover in one night- crying and laughing all the way through. Her strength and very humanistic, hopeful approach with her son Evan put the wind in my sails to change. I faced the challenge head-on- despite the diet naysayers, despite friends and family thinking I was wrong. It may sound trite, but when I was tired and ready to give up I always pictured myself as Jenny and pressed on. The diet was a difficult transition, but we saw great results immediately. My sister, an autistic child specialist has also noticed dramatic results , both behaviorally and cognitively in my daughter and others just by following the diet for 2 months! What I learned is that when you are a parent and you see a problem, you have to try. You cannot stop trying until you find something that helps. Despite what scientists or doctors or anyone says. I hope you are reading this, Jenny, because you are not a bimbo to me- nor to the people who count. You are an incredibly strong woman and mother and you are a hero to those of us who don’t have the kind of celebrity to be heard like you do. Thank for all that you have done.

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:40:44 +0000

My son was lost in his own world until I removed gluten from his diet. I saw an immediate and dramatic result. He made more eye contact, began responding to his name, and dramatically improved his language. I’ve been very skeptical of all biomedical treatments; but I have no doubt that removing gluten from my son’s diet made a huge improvement in his social skills.
There are a very large proportion of Autistic kids with digestive problems. I’m not a doctor, but isn’t constipation or incontinence a digestive problem. Results from a reputable lab show that my son’s body is low in nutrients and minerals even though he’s recieving supplements daily.
I’ve read news articles about this study that state, “digestive issues are not more common in children with autism.” Compared to what? People with Autism comprise less than 1% of our population. Are they comparing the percentage of Autistic people with digestive problems to the percentage of the rest of our population with the same problems?
I’m beginning to feel like most pediatricians have an agenda against any information that shows benefits from alternative treatments. And an agenda against any information that shows that their treatments may have contributed to Autism.
Instead of looking for a way to help people with Autism; it seems like these studies are intended to hinder it.

By: Single mom

Single mom — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:11:16 +0000

Applause @ Linda! Well said *and documented!* Your documentation also proves another valid point: Do you really think parents who implement this diet take only the word of Jenny McCarthy? As with all things with Autism, we go to the ends of the earth researching published research; asking our doctors and other parents; and observing the evidence we live with every day.
I’m constantly amazed at how individuals who have never personally experienced anyone with Autism (especially day to day) suddenly have all the answers and talk about us as *those frantic people begging for an answer* as if the immediate reversals we see with this diet are a fantasy.
What a terrible disservice ABC News provided with this story on both sides of the issue: misconstrued facts with little substance or rebuttal from a myriad of sources. It certainly makes you wonder what ABC’s real motiviation for such manipulative story would come from (especially on the heels of their equally irresponsibly\poorly written article on Kim Peek’s recent death).

By: Father of son w/ Autism

Father of son w/ Autism — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:25:43 +0000

Jenny mabbe a bit over top at times but without her celebrity status who would hear the cries of the parents dealing with children with Autism. The diet helped my son greatly and if he goes off the diet we pay for it in the days that follow with behavior issues, diarrhea and skin rashes.
These are the “so-called” prefessionals that tripled the number of vaccines we give our children without real proof of anything and they are funded by the drug companies. Let’s get this straight…I am not saying DON’T vaccinate….but when, why, and how much needs to be looked at. Is it truly a coincidence that the rise in Autism began shortly after the number of vaccinations were tripled in 1990? Think about it….this is the same government that allowed tobacco companies for many years to say there is no connection with cancer and smoking or niccotine is not addicting. Wake up!

By: Lynda

Lynda — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:17:20 +0000

Diane! You are one of the most credible people in television, but this segment was awful! Has anyone on the panel from which the two new studies emerged been published on bowel disease in children with autism? Wouldn’t it have been more newsworthy to discuss any one of the relevant studies/researchers below, rather than elicit Jenny McCarthy’s opinion?
Balzola F, Daniela C, Repici A, Barbon A, Sapino A, Barbera C, Calvo PL, Gandione M, Rigardetto R, Rizzetto M. Autistic enterocolitis: confirmation of a new inflammatory bowel disease in an Italian cohort of patients. Gastroenterology 2005:128 (Suppl. 2);A-303
Balzola F et al. Autistic Enterocolitis in childhood: the early evidence of the later Crohn’s disease in autistic adulthood? Gastroenterology 2007;132:suppl 2, A 660.
Gonzalez L, Lopez K, Martınez M etal. Endoscopic and histological characteristics of the digestive mucosa in autistic children with gastrointestinal symptoms. Arch. Venezolanos Puericultura Y Pediatria 2006;69;19–25
Furlano R, Anthony A, Day R, Brown A, McGavery, Thomson M, et al. Quantitative immunohistochemistry shows colonic epithelial pathology and gd-T cell infiltration in autistic enterocolitis. J Pediatrics 2001;138:366-372
Torrente F, Machado N, Ashwood P, et al. Enteropathy with T cell infiltration and epithelial IgG deposition in autism. Molecular Psychiatry. 2002;7:375-382
Torrente F., Anthony A., Herushkel RB., M Thomson., Ashwood P., Murch SH. Focal-enhanced gastritis in regressive autism with features distinct from Crohn’s and helicobacter pylori gastritis. Am. J. Gastroenterol. 2004;598-605
Ashwood P, Murch SH, Anthony A, Pellicer AA, Torrente F, Thomson M, Walker-Smith JA, Wakefield AJ. Intestinal lymphocyte populations in children with regressive autism: Evidence for extensive mucosal immunopathology. J.Clin. Immunol. 2003;23:504-517
Ashwood P, Murch SH, Anthony A, Hayes C, Machado MP, Torrente F, Thomson MA, Heuschkel R, Wakefield AJ, Mucosal and peripheral blood lymphocyte cytokine profiles in children with regressive autism and gastrointestinal symptoms: Mucosal immune activation and reduced counter regulatory interleukin-10. Neuroimmunology. 2006;173;126–134
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Krigsman A, Boris M, Goldblatt A, Stott C. Clinical Presentation and Histologic Findings at Ileocolonoscopy in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Chronic Gastrointestinal Symptoms. Autism Insights. 2009:1 1–11
Horvath K and Perman JA, Autistic disorder and gastrointestinal disease, Current Opinion in Pediatrics 2002;14:583–587.
Melmed RD, Schneider C, Fabes RA, et al.: Metabolic markers and gastrointestinal symptoms in children with autism and related disorders. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2000;31:S31–S32
[1]Horvath K, Papadimitriou JC, Rabsztyn A, Drachenberg C, Tildon JT. Gastrointestinal abnormalities in children with autistic disorder, J Pediatr. 1999;135:559-63.
[1]Sandler RH., Finegold SM., Bolte ER., Buchanan CP., Maxwell AP., Vaisansen M-L, Nelson MN, Wexler HM., Short-term benefit from oral vancomycin treatment of regressive-onset autism. J. Child Neurol. 2000;15:429-435
Parracho H., Bingham MO., Gibson GR., McCartney AL. Differences between the gut flora of children with autistic spectrum disorders and that of healthy children. Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2005;54:987-991
P-l-e-a-s-e… as a Mom of a child with autism (of whom the diets make a dramatic differenece in behaviors)lets give the fair balance of research discussion in an effort to find answers to help our 1 in 70 boys.

By: Dave M

Dave M — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:47:10 +0000

How could ABC’s producers allow someone with absolutely no understanding of the scientific method give a non-sensical response based on what…5-6 years worth of “experience” without rebuttal from the authors of the study who have impressive creditials and have dedicated their lives to research. I guess the researchers should have posed for Playboy before they released the results of their study.