It is suggested that abnormal levels of peptides by excessive opioid activity caused by the ingestion of gluten and casein may play a role in autism. Gluten is found in many common foods made from wheat, barley, rye grains or flour from these grains. Casein is a protein found in dairy products. As part of this study, several randomized clinical trials including diets free of gluten and/or casein were reviewed. One small trial out of several reviewed reported a reduction of autistic traits, but a benefit in cognitive skills, linguistic ability and motor ability was not seen. (16)
Behavior in infants with autism improved after eliminating milk and wheat intake. A study conducted on the effects of food allergies and infantile autism shows that there is a possible relationship. According to a study in Italy entitled “Food allergy and infantile autism” done at the Department of Paediatrics(sic), University of Rome Las Sapienza found that worsening neurological symptoms has been reported in autistic patients after consuming milk and wheat containing foods. In a study group of 36 autistic patients and 20 healthy controls, antibodies for milk proteins including casein, lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin were seen. After the elimination of these foods for an 8 week period, there was improvement in the behaviors of the autistic patients despite the fact that the milk antibodies were found to be higher in the controls. (17)