The effect of a combined gluten-and casein-free diet on children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Amélie Keller*, Marie Louise Rimestad, Jeanett Friis Rohde, Birgitte Holm Petersen, Christoffer Bruun Korfitsen, Simon Tarp, Marlene Briciet Lauritsen, Mina Nicole Händel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

There has been a growing interest in the gastrointestinal system and its significance for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including the significance of adopting a gluten-free and casein-free (GFCF) diet. The objective was to investigate beneficial and safety of a GFCF diet among children with a diagnosis of ASD. We performed a systematic literature search in Medline, Embase, Cinahl, and the Cochrane Library up to January 2020 for existing systematic reviews and individual randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Studies were included if they investigated a GFCF diet compared to a regular diet in children aged 3 to 17 years diagnosed with ASD, with or without comorbidities. The quality of the identified existing reviews was assessed using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR). The risk of bias in RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, and overall quality of evidence was evaluated using Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). We identified six relevant RCTs, which included 143 participants. The results from a random effect model showed no effect of a GFCF diet on clinician-reported autism core symptoms (standardized mean difference (SMD) −0.31 (95% Cl. −0.89, 0.27)), parent-reported functional level (mean difference (MD) 0.61 (95% Cl −5.92, 7.14)) or behavioral difficulties (MD 0.80 (95% Cl −6.56, 10.16)). On the contrary, a GFCF diet might trigger gastrointestinal adverse effects (relative risk (RR) 2.33 (95% Cl 0.69, 7.90)). The quality of evidence ranged from low to very low due to serious risk of bias, serious risk of inconsistency, and serious risk of imprecision. Clinical implications of the present findings may be careful consideration of introducing a GFCF diet to children with ASD. However, the limitations of the current literature hinder the possibility of drawing any solid conclusion, and more high-quality RCTs are needed. The protocol is registered at the Danish Health Authority website.

Original languageEnglish
Article number470
JournalNutrients
Volume13
Issue number2
Number of pages18
ISSN2072-6643
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2021
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Childhood
  • Gluten-free/casein-free diet

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