Food for Thought

Children with autism have gastrointestinal problems, and special diets can help resolve these issues.That idea is all but accepted as fact by parents, advocates and scientists alike. Many parents of children with autism report that the children have frequent stomachaches, constipation or acid reflux, and some attribute these to problems digesting gluten or dairy proteins.In a review published Monday in Pediatrics, a large and diverse group of pediatric experts states unequivocally that there is no evidence to support the idea of autism-specific gut problems or of a so-called 'leaky gut' that doesn't allow children with the disorder to properly digest nutrients.Read more at...SFARI, January 2010.