Diet link to autism?

Conditions such as autism and Asperger's Syndrome - both of which examples cause developmental and behavioural problems affecting about one in 500 children - may have a biochemical or metabolic basis.

Professor Michael Gardner in the Department of Biomedical Sciences has been researching the theory that, for some sufferers, diet is involved with autism and schizophrenia. If this is proven, then dietary changes, especially removing gluten, the main protein in wheat, and casein, a major protein in dairy produce, should be of great benefit. Though this is still regarded as controversial, Norwegian scientists with whom Professor Gardner collaborates have recorded significant behavioural and learning improvements in autistic children when the proteins are cut out of the diet.

It has been known for some time that partial digestion of some proteins such as gluten and casein produces fragments (peptides) that can mimic morphine in its action on the nervous system, but it used to be presumed that these were not absorbed across the intestines into the body. Over many years Professor Gardner and other scientists have shown that small amounts of these peptides can in fact be absorbed and gain access to the brain and to the immune system. These peptides have been nicknamed 'exorphins' because they are exogenous morphine-like compounds. It is also clear that some autistic and schizophrenic people have abnormally permeable or 'leaky' intestines which could promote the absorption of these peptides.

These findings provide a real biochemical and physiological explanation as to how dietary proteins could affect development of the nervous and immune systems and ultimately affect behaviour. Much further research is now needed, says Professor Gardner, to test these ideas which could potentially lead to the treatment of sufferers simply by altering their diet.

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University - Public Relations - Annual Reports - 2000 Contents - Research

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