GFCF diets

If a 2-year old ASD child has been tested for allergies and the results found no allergic reactions, would/could this child still benefit from a GFCF diet?

Hi gramma!

Thank you --and thanks to all those participating on the forums-- for posting your questions. I am eager to bring all of the concerns families have raised to the researchers attending our upcoming IAN Research Conference!

As for the GFCF diets, many parents are using them --they are on the top twenty list of treatments used by the families participating in IAN Research. (See our first ever Research Report: http://www.iancommunity.org/cs/ian_research_reports/ian_research_report_may_2007)

On the other hand, research studies have not so far provided much evidence that the diets work. (By which I mean there has been no "Eureka!" --we put children on these diets and we see convincing and consistent evidence that it helps every time we study it.) You can read about what we know so far about GFCF diets here: http://www.iancommunity.org/cs/what_do_we_know/special_diets

Your question is very insightful, because in wondering about whether children with allergies are helped by the diets, you are really asking if kids with a certain profile may benefit from a specific treatment. That is a question we hope researchers will address!

I will be interested to hear about the experience of parents who have tried the diets...and to hear if allergies or other sensitivities were part of their child's profile.