UT Houston Researchers to Study Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diets
Thursday, August 14, 2008
By: Carin Yavorcik

Study to test link to autism

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 some 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.

“A 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,” said Katherine Loveland, Ph.D., co-investigator and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, pediatrics and biomedical sciences at the Health Science Center. “There 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.”

For the double-blind study, funded in its initial phase by supplemental funds granted by the Department of Pediatrics, researchers will enroll 38 children ages 3 to 9 with autism. They will look at the influence of gluten and milk proteins in intestinal function. Gluten is a protein in wheat; while 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 the behavior of these children. Children will be taken off gluten and dairy products before the four-week study and then half of them 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.

For more information, see the UT Houston press release.