<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The objective of the study was to investigate the potential of a specific carbohydrate diet and selected dietary supplements in reducing some autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in children. This was a quantitative, non-blinded, non-randomised three-month pilot study of a dietary and nutritional intervention. The study participants were 17 children from Latvia and the United Kingdom with a diagnosis of ASD or autistic symptoms waiting to be diagnosed (intervention group n = 10, control group n = 7). The intervention group received a specific carbohydrate dietary plan — Specific Carbohydrate Diet / Gut and Psychology Syndrome diet (SCD/GAPS) — and a few dietary supplements (omega-3 essential fatty acids, ascorbyl-palmitate, probiotics, vitamin D, and vitamin C). Family compliance to the dietary guidelines was 40–80%. Autistic and digestive symptoms were evaluated by parents using validated questionnaires. By the end of the study, gastrointestinal symptoms decreased in both groups (<italic>p</italic> = 0.01 for the intervention group, <italic>p</italic> = 0.02 for the control group), especially abdominal pain and bloating. The Overall Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) score decreased by 23% in the intervention group (<italic>p</italic> = 0.05), with the largest improvement in Socialising (<italic>p</italic> = 0.03) and Health/Behaviour (<italic>p</italic> = 0.02) aspects. The Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC) score decreased by 29% in the intervention group (<italic>p</italic> = 0.01), with the largest improvement in Irritability (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) and Hyperactivity (<italic>p</italic> = 0.02) subcategories. Overall Parent Global Impressions — Revised-2 (PGI-2) evaluation showed a 43% improvement in the intervention group in comparison to 14% in the control group, <italic>p</italic> = 0.02. The specific carbohydrate diet (SCD/GAPS) and supplements were found to be a safe and effective approach for reducing some symptoms of ASD in children.</p>
</abstract>

The objective of the study was to investigate the potential of a specific carbohydrate diet and selected dietary supplements in reducing some autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in children. This was a quantitative, non-blinded, non-randomised three-month pilot study of a dietary and nutritional intervention. The study participants were 17 children from Latvia and the United Kingdom with a diagnosis of ASD or autistic symptoms waiting to be diagnosed (intervention group n = 10, control group n = 7). The intervention group received a specific carbohydrate dietary plan — Specific Carbohydrate Diet / Gut and Psychology Syndrome diet (SCD/GAPS) — and a few dietary supplements (omega-3 essential fatty acids, ascorbyl-palmitate, probiotics, vitamin D, and vitamin C). Family compliance to the dietary guidelines was 40–80%. Autistic and digestive symptoms were evaluated by parents using validated questionnaires. By the end of the study, gastrointestinal symptoms decreased in both groups (p = 0.01 for the intervention group, p = 0.02 for the control group), especially abdominal pain and bloating. The Overall Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) score decreased by 23% in the intervention group (p = 0.05), with the largest improvement in Socialising (p = 0.03) and Health/Behaviour (p = 0.02) aspects. The Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC) score decreased by 29% in the intervention group (p = 0.01), with the largest improvement in Irritability (p < 0.01) and Hyperactivity (p = 0.02) subcategories. Overall Parent Global Impressions — Revised-2 (PGI-2) evaluation showed a 43% improvement in the intervention group in comparison to 14% in the control group, p = 0.02. The specific carbohydrate diet (SCD/GAPS) and supplements were found to be a safe and effective approach for reducing some symptoms of ASD in children.

Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD/GAPS) and Dietary Supplements for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The objective of the study was to investigate the potential of a specific carbohydrate diet and selected dietary supplements in reducing some autistic spectrum...

Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD/GAPS) and Dietary Supplements for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Publicado en línea: 14 dic 2021

Páginas: 417 - 425

Recibido: 22 mar 2021

Aceptado: 17 nov 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2021-0062

Palabras clave
autism, low carbohydrate diet, gut and psychology syndrome, gut microbiome, gut-brain connection

© 2021 Silvija Ābele et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD/GAPS) and Dietary Supplements for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Publicado en línea: 14 dic 2021

Páginas: 417 - 425

Recibido: 22 mar 2021

Aceptado: 17 nov 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2021-0062

Palabras claveautism, low carbohydrate diet, gut and psychology syndrome, gut microbiome, gut-brain connection

© 2021 Silvija Ābele et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Palabras clave
autism, low carbohydrate diet, gut and psychology syndrome, gut microbiome, gut-brain connection