Autism is a complex brain disorder. There’s no hard evidence that special diets help children with ASD. Talk to your doctor before trying something different, like a special diet.
Some children with autism might appear to be picky eaters. They may only eat foods of a certain color or texture, not eat enough or eat too much, or eat things that aren’t food. They can have constipation, which makes them feel full even if they’re not, or have issues with coughing or gagging while they eat.
While it may seem that cutting out certain foods could relieve your child’s symptoms, it might actually cause more harm.
For example, children with autism often have thinner bones. Dairy products have nutrients that can make their bones stronger. Studies on a protein in milk products called casein have found that many children performed the same whether or not they ate foods with this protein. Their autism symptoms didn’t change in any remarkable way.
However, some diet changes may help with certain symptoms of autism. Food allergies, for example, may make behavior problems worse. Removing the allergen from your child’s diet may make some behavior issues better.
The important thing is that your child’s diet needs to support their specific nutritional needs and ASD symptoms. The best way to settle on the most useful diet is to work with your doctor and a nutrition specialist like a registered dietitian. They’ll help you design a meal plan tailored for your child.
Some children with autism have digestive problems like constipation, belly pain, or nausea and vomiting. Your doctor can suggest a diet that won’t make these issues worse.
Supplements for autism
Some evidence shows that people with autism may have low levels of certain vitamins and minerals. This does not cause autism spectrum disorder. But your doctor may suggest supplements to improve nutrition. Vitamin B and magnesium are two of the supplements most often used for people with autism. But people can overdose on these vitamins, so megavitamins should be avoided.
And remember, nutritional needs change over time. Your child’s dietitian will help you make sure the foods they eat are still meeting their needs as they get older.
