The Link Between Poor Diet and Autism

Children on the autism spectrum have long been associated with dietary and behavioural difficulties, with these issues often presenting hand in hand. There’s a strong link between children on the autism spectrum experiencing gastrointestinal problems early in life which carry over into GI problems in adulthood.

One segment of the problem is the relationship between children on the autism spectrum and behaviour problems around the actual consumption of food. Parents of children with autism can often struggle to ensure children eat a varied and healthy diet, with behavioural and sensory issues often causing an impasse with certain foods, leading to a more limited diet which can pose lifetime problems. 

Gut Flora

However, research from Arizona State University has opened a valuable door into understanding how we can start to address both behavioural and gastrointestinal health of children with autism.  Their work has found aside from lacking an overall variety of gut flora compared to children not on the autism spectrum, children with autism lack three critical gut flora. 

A vital aspect of the research is the demonstration of a relationship between restoring a healthy balance to gut flora and a significant reduction in problematic behaviour in children with autism. Research cited by the Arizona State University team also confirmed lacking this critical gut flora is linked to making autistic children more vulnerable to bacteria-related GI problems, forming a cruel chicken and egg problem with food, behaviour, gut flora, and diet.

The Gluten-Free Diet

Unfortunately, the research is in its relative infancy, but if you’ve been struggling at home to manage the behaviour of a child on the autism spectrum, it might be worth investigating the gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) diet. While the reasons why this diet works so well for some families aren’t totally understood yet, many parents have documented positive results by implementing it. One downside of the diet is that it’s incredibly strict, which can make it difficult for children and parents alike to adhere to.

Note: Before making any significant changes to your child’s diet, you should discuss your decision with your child’s doctor. 

What’s hoped is that further research, already approved by Arizona State University, will blow the doors open on the nature of the link between gut flora, behavioural problems, diet and GI health throughout life. The team at Arizona State University are also confident their research will help us gain a better understanding autism itself, and could assist in developing methods for future prevention and treatment.

This research, is in addition to private sector organisations like Bidvest, the food supplier, taking an active role in donating to autism organisations in multiple countries around the world.

In the meantime, if your child is on the autism spectrum, you might find support from the following organisations:

My Autism Team: a social network for parents of kids with autism

Autism Action: tools for parents to improve the education of children with autism

If you have any others to add to our list, leave us a comment so that we can share more information on this important topic. 

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