PETA Campaign Angers Autism Groups

Oct. 1, 2008— -- The latest public anti-milk campaign by animal rights group PETA has stirred up controversy between doctors, parents and activists in the autism community.

A new PETA-sponsored "go vegan" campaign billboard in Newark, N.J., includes the phrase "Studies have shown a link between cow's milk and autism."

The animal rights group cites two studies by researchers at the University of Rome as reason for the purported "link," even though the studies themselves do not prove any connection between milk and autism.

Dr. Susan McGrew, associate professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt University, said the billboard looks more like a scare tactic rather than an evidence-based statement.

"I'm concerned more about the people who don't have autism," McGrew said. "They will be scared that they'll get autism if they drink milk."

McGrew attributed the perceived link between milk and autism to what is called the "leaky gut theory," the idea that poorly digested proteins, including casein in milk, react with the opiate receptors in the brain. Some researchers hypothesize that a "leaky gut" may contribute to symptoms of autism. This has led some parents with autistic children to eliminate gluten, a protein in wheat, and milk products from their children's diet.

"Oftentimes children who have gluten sensitivity feel discomfort or pain, and because of that they become distressed, and when they become distressed often their reaction behavior becomes disconnected," said Dr. Leslie Rubin, director of the autism program at Children's Health Care of Atlanta. When on the gluten-free, casein-free diet, "those reactionary behaviors go away," Rubin said.

Rubin said the change in behavior may cause some parents to believe their child is cured of autism symptoms, when in fact the change in behavior is due to a relief of gastrointestinal discomfort. According to Rubin, there is no data to indicate that individuals with autism have more gluten or casein sensitivities than those who do not have autism.