Talk:Gluten-free, casein-free diet

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[edit] Sources

This article makes fairly impressive claims, but doesn't mention the scientific studies done to test them. I suppose they might be in some of the external links, but I haven't looked at all of them. The entire "Reported effects" section could definitely use some actual reports. A few other statements of note:

However, children who eat only or mostly wheat and dairy products often show remarkable improvement once a GFCF diet is underway. Many families have found from experience that their children's menu options actually increase after the effects of eating gluten and casein have subsided.

Who are these children who often show remarkable improvement? Which of the "many" families? How can the menu options possibly increase after adopting a restriction?

Although this diet has been questioned by the medical community, many doctors and university research centers are advocating the use of this intervention for autistic children, especially after seeing results first-hand.

Who is questioning it within the medical community? It matters a lot whether the answer is "most of it" or "a few cranks who protest everything." And if the response is better after seeing the results "first-hand," what kind of success rate does this seem to have? For instance, if only 20% of autistics greatly improve after taking the diet, it's possible that some of them would have bloomed anyway.

There are as yet few studies that prove or disprove the GFCF diet or other diets, but there is growing acceptance in the medical community that restrictive diets affect pediatric and adolescent behavior.

Well, of course they can affect behavior, but how?

Don't get me wrong; it's entirely possible that this diet is the real thing, but even if studies have not been completed, surely some sourced speculation and rumination from scientists could be found. SnowFire 20:16, 28 July 2006 (UTC)


The section "Practical implementation" says citation is needed for "Gluten is found in all products containing wheat, rye, and barley and may sometimes contaminate oats grown nearby or processed on the same equipment as gluten-containing cereals" Does the following suffice?

Gluten Contamination of Commercial Oats in the United States Thompson T. NEJM. 2004;351:2021-2022 (Nov. 4, 2004, Number 19) http://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=1054 Mike carton 16:30, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] This article needs help

This is a reasonably weasely article, filled with lots of non-statements like "many parents report that..." and "the vast majority of professionals...". It also swings back and forth between paragraphs suggesting that the casein/glutein->opiate theory is fact and paragraphs noting that little research supports its efficacy.

The truth of the matter is that the GFCF diet is advocate-driven science with little solid research working in its favor. That being said, the medical community is not "opposed" to the GFCF diet. The professionals who work with my autistic children have told us the same thing repeatedly: "go ahead and try it - it can't hurt. We don't expect it will make a difference, though."

If I have time I will try to digest the "advocate" piece and the "no research support" piece and come up with something NPOV. Irene Ringworm 23:28, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

for now i have removed all the weaselworded paragraphs, not much left though. i like your defintion, can you put that in?trueblood 01:22, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
Trueblood, you turned the article into a nonsensical hash. I happen to think that this diet is most likely bunk, but doing things like removing the lead (!) and not at least saying what proponents think of the diet is doing a disservice. Note that there are some External links at the bottom which confirm trivially that this is what advocates think happen, and that's not under dispute; the question is if the article can say it actually works. SnowFire 01:41, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
sorry, it's true i stopped short of deleting the article, that is what i wanted to do. 212.194.193.90 07:19, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
Done and done. Removed the tags. Explained the controversy without resorting to "some people think" and "some people say". Referenced objections from the medical community. Got rid of the dubious history of "two women taking the GFCF diet to the world. Irene Ringworm 04:39, 7 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Gluten in Rice?

This article says that gluten is found in rice, however the article on gluten says that there is no gluten in rice. One or the other should be changed by someone who knows. 24.7.254.33 14:11, 6 March 2007 (UTC)

Good, I see it is fixed. 24.7.254.33 20:39, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Recent add moved to talk page for sorting out, fact checking

This recently added section is redundant with information already in the article and doesn't appear to fit the flow of the article otherwise. The only new information is the introduction of the "leaky gut" hypothesis but the data included is factually incorrect. Leaky Gut Syndrome is one suggested root cause for peptide buildup but other sources hypothesize a simple metabolic disorder unrelated to instestinal permeability. I think that Leaky Gut might be worked into the article but needs some clarity.
I have moved this section to the talk page in case consensus decides that it belongs in the article. Irene Ringworm 19:58, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Autism and the GFCF diet

Gastrointestinal problems are a common comorbid disorder with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and some people see this as proof for the "leaky gut" theory as a cause of Autism, while others see the gluten and casein-free diet as treating symptoms, not causes, of Autistic Spectrum Disorders. The molecular structure of the partially undigested proteins, known as peptides, resemble opiates and are claimed to have damaging effects on the developing brain and also affects behavior, just as any narcotic would.

The "leaky gut" theory remains controversial with no rigorous scientific studies done as yet. A recent study of the role of diets in Autism Spectrum Disorders noted that significant design flaws in all the current studies make it difficult to rely on an conclusions reached (Christianson & Ivany 2006).

[edit] A restrictive diet is not the cure

Diet alone is not the cure for austistic children, The only way you can cure the intolerances is to reduce the gut infection and floral imblance seen in children with autism spectrum discorders. Current research points to the fact that many austistic children definently have a Enterocolitis like illness, which means that have an inflammatory like disease in their guts. recommend you read gut and mental illness —Preceding unsigned comment added by 211.30.235.237 (talk) 00:58, 18 September 2007 (UTC)

That's a giant spam link which will never go on the page. Your statement would require reliable sources to impact the page. WLU

23:32, 19 September 2007 (UTC)

check this out: [1]
i do not know how to edit pages very well, but this information really needs to be included.—Preceding unsigned comment added by Bella stranger (talkcontribs)
Of debatable use on this page since it doesn't mention GFCF specifically, but could probably be used on other autism-related pages. WLU (talk) 18:26, 29 November 2007 (UTC)
Also, see WP:MEDMOS and WP:MEDRS regarding relying on media reports in scientific articles; peer-reviewed sources are preferable, as the media often gets it wrong. SandyGeorgia (Talk) 19:22, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] GF/CF isn't curebie

I wouldn't say GF/CF necessarily is a sub-topic from the Autism Cure Movement, some Autism Rights Movement people use the diet aswell.

I suggest someone take away that Autism Cure Movement box. It might even contribute to further polarization in the autism debate. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.166.146.68 (talk) 15:37, 12 January 2008 (UTC)

Decided to do the change.