Gluten free diet

Restrictive diets with limited intake of gluten, lactose, casein or other nutrients are some times recommended. In the case of diets restricting nutrients such as gluten, lactose, casein, and other elements, the benefit is only found when the person with autism suffers from a food intolerance or allergy. It is not possible to recommend the gluten free or casein free and/or ketogenic diet, or any other restrictive diet to individuals with autism based on the available evidence. A gluten and casein free diet involves avoiding all foodstuffs which contain gluten and casein. Following a gluten and casein free diet is not without risk. For example there are increased risks of an inadequate intake of nutrients such as energy, iodine, calcium and fibre which could cause weight loss and poor growth.

These risks are further exacerbated if the child or young person already has a limited diet and by following a gluten and casein free diet will miss out on some of their ‘favourite’ foods. The diet can also involve significant inconvenience and cost. NICE Autism Guidelines for children and young people 2021 advises not to use exclusion diets (such as gluten or casein free diets).