Change Of Diet For children With Autism Suffering - Nutrition and ...

gastrointestinal tract. Microscopic involvement was observed in 70%, 60% and in
100% of pis in the upper gastrointestinal tract, in the terminal ileum and in the
colon respectively, with different histological grade. Mesalazine (8 pts), steroids
(2 pts) and 6-mercaptopurine (2 pts) were prescribed according to the
histological/clinical score, Casein-free diet and successively glutein-free diet were
introduced within the first 3 months by a dietician. A Behavioural Summarized
Evaluation (BSE, a score with 29 behavioural items with a degree of frequency
validated with a statistical correlation with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale)
was used to blindly evaluate the pts at entrance and after 12 months. After 1
year treatment, 80% of pts with severe constipation or diarrhoea had normal
stool movements and in 75% an evident reduction of abdominal pain was also
observed, The total BSE score showed a global improvement after 12 months that
ranged from 10 to 32% (p=0.00388) in all the pts evaluated. When selected
symptoms were compared before and after the treatment a reduction of deep
anxiety (53%), agitation (35%), mood disturbance (24%), etero-aggressivity
(14%), self-aggressivity (13%) as well as an improvement of attention (77%)
and sleep (44%) were also observed (p=0.009796). In conclusion, these results
proved for the first time a beneficial effect of the combination of drug and dietetic
therapy on both bowel and psychiatric symptoms in autism.
Registry Numbers: 89-57-6: mesalazine; 50-44-2: 6-mercaptopurine
DESCRIPTORS:
Major Concepts: Clinical Immunology--Human Medicine, Medical Sciences;
Nutrition; Psychiatry--Human Medicine, Medical Sciences; Gastroenterology--
Human Medicine, Medical Sciences
Biosystematic Names: Hominidae--Primates, Mammalia, Vertebrata, Chordata,
Animalia
Organisms: human (Hominidae)--child, preadolescent child, adult, adolescent,
female , male
Organisms: Parts Etc: colon--digestive system; ileum--digestive system
Common Taxonomic Terms: Animals; Chordates; Humans; Mammals; Primates;
Vertebrates
Diseases: diarrhea--digestive system disease; constipation--digestive system
disease; autism--behavioral and mental disorders, complications; autistic
enterocolitis--digestive system disease, drug therapy, diet therapy, symptom;
lymphoid nodular hyperplasia--blood and lymphatic disease, immune system
disease; chronic ileo-colitis--digestive system disease; inflammatory bowel
disease {IBD}--digestive system disease, diet therapy
Mesh Terms: Diarrhea (MeSH); Constipation (MeSH); Autistic Disorder (MeSH);
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (MeSH)
Chemicals & Biochemicals: mesalazine--gastrointestinal-drug; 6mercaptopurine--enzyme
inhibitor-drug, immunosuppressant-drug,
gastrointestinal-drug, immunologic-drug; steroids--hormone-drug,
gastrointestinal-drug
Methods & Equipment: gluten-free diet--therapeutic and prophylactic techniques,
clinical techniques; casein-free diet--therapeutic and prophylactic techniques,
clinical techniques
Frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms in children with
autistic spectrum disorders and association with family
history of autoimmune disease.
Valicenti-McDermott Maria; McVicar Kathryn; Rapin Isabelle; Wershil Barry K ;
Cohen Herbert; Shinnar Shlomo