Parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), tend to opt for an alternative intervention for their children, for example, the use of gluten- and casein-free diets, perceived as risk-free, to improve the cognitive-behavioral function of their children with ASD. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The main goal of this essay is to discuss the most recent advances in research on gluten-free products and the evidence for or against the use of gluten-free and casein-free diets, especially for children diagnosed with ASD. It also critically explored the strategies used, challenges encountered, and emotional impact experienced by people following a gluten-free diet, as evidenced by previous research studies. A systematic review of research papers published from 1970 to the present indicated that most studies conducted on children with ASD following a gluten-free diet have mostly been tested in randomized, controlled trials, with small sample sizes. Therefore, there is a lack of validity and solid scientific evidence to conclude on the effectiveness of adopting a gluten-free diet as a form of intervention. Future research on a larger scale is recommended (O'Shea, Arendt, & Gallaghar, 2014; Zarkadas, Dubois, McIsacc, Cantin, Rashid, Roberts, La Vieille, Godefroy, & Pulido, 2013; Description and Definition Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD ) have been on the rise over the past 30 years and are becoming prevalent, affecting 1 in 68 people in the United States. It is a highly complex disorder with multiple causes and various treatment approaches aimed at treating only the symptoms because autism is not curable. Children with autism are characterized by a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders that manifest in early childhood. They include persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, along with limited and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities, such as stereotyped speech or repetitive, motor movements, or fixational interest in certain objects or tasks could also influence multiple systems, particularly the cognitive-behavioral function of the person with ASD. In previous epidemiological studies of prenatal development, metabolic and nutritional factors have been identified as one of the risks contributing to autism for newborns (Matelski, & Van de Water, 2016). The “opioid excess theory” may better explain “gluten and casein intolerance” in people diagnosed with ASD. According to Lange, Hauser & Reissmann (2015), when gluten (from wheat) and casein (from dairy) are consumed in the body, they are metabolized into "gluteomorphin" and "casomorphin". These “peptides” then bind to “opiate receptors” in the “central nervous system” and mimic the effects of “opiate drugs.” During digestion, "opioid peptides" are formed which then lead to increased activity in the "endogenous opioid system" and cause the symptoms of autism. Therefore, a diet low in gluten and casein is believed to improve the child's cognitive-behavioral function. people with ASD (Lange, Hauser, & Reissmann, 2015, np). Children diagnosed with autism also tend to suffer from comorbid problems that cause gastrointestinal symptoms and affect their concentration and attention span. Previous research studies have also associated gluten intolerance with ASD and have indicated the relationship between ASD and celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that causes gastrointestinal syndrome (Lange, Hauser, &Reissmann, 2015; Jackson, Eaton, Cascella, Fasano and Kelly, 2012, pp 95-96). Definition of intervention to improve the quality of life The purpose of choosing an intervention or non-invasive therapy is to improve the quality of life of patients. A gluten-free diet (GFD) tends to be the preferred intervention used by parents of children with ASD because it is not a form of medication, non-evasive in nature, compared to another form of therapy, such as stem cell therapy . Currently, the gluten-free diet is widely used by individuals with celiac disease and by parents with children diagnosed with ASD to improve their children's quality of life. However, due to misinformation circulating online or incorrect advice from unqualified sources regarding the benefits or harmful effects of the gluten-free diet, it is legitimate to examine the inaccuracies or inaccuracies, fact and fiction of using the gluten-free diet gluten as a form of intervention. With the growing popularity of parents putting their children on a gluten-free diet, in the belief that it is a risk-free intervention to alleviate their children's autistic symptoms, this could have important implications for them (Reilly, 2016). A recent UK survey indicated that 80% of parents of children with autism spectrum disorders tend to use some form of dietary intervention for their children, of which 29% of parents put their child on a diet gluten and casein free (GFFCFD). When examining the effects of GFCFD use on their children, 20-29% of parents reported significant improvements in cognitive-behavioral function. The findings also suggested that a gluten- and casein-free diet helped alleviate comorbid problems such as gastrointestinal symptoms and improved the concentration and attention span of these children. Although parents involved in the studies demonstrated positive effects of GFCFD on their children, most scientific evaluations have failed to confirm its therapeutic effects. Using parents as informants about their children's autistic symptoms can be a source of distorted information. Perhaps, in future case studies, we will need to include physicians as informants and effect assessors, to introduce standardized testing procedures and observation parameters. It will subsequently integrate the measures and provide a more complete picture of the dietary effects of GFCFD on children with ASD (Lange, Hauser & Reissmann, 2015). Parents' use of the GFCFD on their children may have some shortcomings that need to be addressed. For example, some parents may proceed to place their child on GFCFD without testing for celiac disease or consulting a dietitian. Some children with celiac disease may be asymptomatic from the start and therefore are not noticed as having the condition. Additionally, information about the health and social consequences of starting a child on GFCFD is not adequate online or in books to allow parents to make an informed choice (Reilly, 2016). Research studies behind interventions and evaluations according to Lange, et al. (2015), GFCFD studies evaluating the effects of a GFCFD on autistic symptoms have so far been questionable and inconclusive. The authors also stated that research studies investigating the effectiveness of a gluten-free diet in treating autism are seriously flawed, and the therapeutic value of this diet appears to be weak and limited. A systematic review of research articles published from 1970 to the present also indicated that most research studies conducted on children with ASD whofollowing a gluten-free diet have mostly been tested in randomized controlled trials and with a small sample size. Therefore, it lacks validity and reliability and is unable to provide solid scientific evidence to conclude on the effectiveness of adopting a gluten-free diet as a form of intervention. Recent research studies have indicated that gluten sensitivity (GS) is a disease distinct from celiac disease. This new discovery has given rise to a new understanding and knowledge of the disease. Both celiac disease and GS can present with a variety of neurological and psychiatric comorbidities. However, for those with GS, the main symptoms are extra-intestinal problems. Those with celiac disease have been found to have villous atrophy or antibodies present in their tissues.bodies, unlike those with GS who do not have the antibodies. Therefore, GS, if left untreated, can lead to psychiatric and neurological manifestations in people with ASD (Jackson, et al., 2012). Jackson, et al. (2012) also cited some research studies indicating an increased risk of ASD in children with a “maternal history of rheumatoid arthritis,” “celiac disease,” and “irritable bowel syndrome.” Another study used a control group for comparison. People with ASD and their family members have been found to have a higher percentage of people with "abnormal intestinal permeability" compared to the non-ASD group. Another control group study of GFCFD used on patients with ASD found “better intestinal permeability” compared to patients not taking GFCFD. Because most research studies tend to focus on the use of GFCFDs rather than elimination of GFCFDs in people with ASD, it is difficult to determine whether there are additional beneficial effects if a non-GFFCD is used (p. 95). The beneficial effects of a GFCFD on autistic symptoms have so far been contradictory and have remained questionable and there is insufficient data to support its benefits (Mari-Bauset, et al., 2014; Gaesser & Angadi, 2012, p. 1330). . In fact, recent evidence suggests that a gluten-free diet may reduce beneficial gut bacteria in the gut. Other reports have also indicated that obese patients tend to gain even more weight after being placed on a gluten-free diet. It may be due to improved nutrient absorption or healing of the intestinal lining by following a gluten-free diet (Gaesser & Angadi, 2012). This could have implications for obese children with ASD who may gain more weight if they use a gluten-free diet as a form of intervention. Reilly (2016) stated that there is insufficient evidence to support the health benefits of a gluten-free diet. Conversely, a gluten-free diet can have adverse effects if it is not prescribed or approved by a registered dietitian or doctor. Gluten-free packaged foods also tend to have higher sugar and fat contents than non-gluten-free foods. Eating too much sugar and fat can increase your risk of obesity. There is emerging evidence to show that a strict rice flour-based gluten-free diet without other varieties of gluten-free products can lead to toxicity due to “arsenic,” which is present in inorganic form in most gluten-free products. rice. A gluten-free diet can also cause vitamin B, folic acid and iron deficiencies. Thus, it is a myth to think that following a gluten-free diet is a healthier choice (Reilly, 2016, pp. 206-207). A recent research study was conducted by Hyman, Stewart, Foley, Cain, Peck, Morris, Wang, and Smith (2016), on the safety and effectiveness of gluten-free/gluten-free foodscasein (GFCF) on a group of 14 children (age 3-5 years) with autism. They were placed on the GFCF diet for 4-6 weeks and followed by a placebo-controlled challenge study for 12 weeks while continuing the diet, with a 12-week follow-up. Children were given weekly snacks containing gluten, casein, gluten and casein, or placebo during the nutritional counseling dietary challenges. The results indicated that the GFCF diet was safe and well tolerated. However, the limitation of this study was that it was unable to monitor significant effects on physiological functioning, behavioral problems, or autism symptoms. Due to the small sample size, the results need to be interpreted with caution and replicated on a larger scale to validate them. The scientific community has always tried to establish alternative methods of intervention. To date, there is no pharmacological treatment available for gluten-intolerant patients. Placing patients on a strict, gluten-free diet for life appeared to be the only safe solution, although it is not yet conclusive regarding its effectiveness. A research study was conducted by Caputo, Marilena, Stefania & Esposito (2010) on the use of enzymes as additives or processing aids in the food biotechnology sector to detoxify gluten. The recent development of “enzyme therapy” is a new alternative intervention that focuses on inactivating immunogenic gluten epitopes and is administered orally to patients. For people with ASD, it could mean new hope and be a new strategy to alleviate autism symptoms and improve cognitive-behavioral functions. People undergoing this therapy are given doses of "Flavobacterium meningosepticum", "Sphingomonas capsulate" and "Myxococcus Xanthus". These enzymes are believed to help "degrade proline-containing peptides" that are otherwise resistant to degradation by "proteases" in the gastrointestinal tract. A lifelong gluten-free diet may not be easy to maintain and causes a negative impact on food quality. life. It is also expensive to stick to a gluten-free diet while a non-gluten-free diet is commonly available and is cheaper to maintain (Caputo, Marilena, Stefania & Esposito, 2010, pp.4-5; Zarkadas, et al., 2013 ). A systematic review of the medical literature related to GFCFD was conducted by Mari-Bauset, et al. (2014). The researchers tracked databases dating back to the 1970s through September 2013 on published research articles or written reports on the use of GFCFD in children with ASD as an intervention. The systematic review assessed the findings and reported that none of the identified studies provided conclusive evidence of the effectiveness of GFCFD foods as an intervention for ASD because they were poorly validated. The studies are mostly tested on randomized controlled trials, with a small sample size so they cannot be conclusive or representative. A recent research study conducted in 2008 by Zarkadas, et al., (2013) studied the effects of a gluten-free diet among Canadians with celiac disease. A questionnaire was mailed to all 1,0693 members of both the Canadian Celiac Association and the Foundation qu bicoise de la Maladie clic. A total of 5912 people (age=18 years) responded, representing 72% of the response rate. The results reflected the difficulties encountered, the strategies used, and the emotional impact of following a gluten-free diet. For example, a significantly higher percentage of women than men reported frequently feeling frustrated and isolated during both treatment periods. So long as.