Elemental Formula Diet in Autistic Children

Abstract

Background: Autism is a complexed neurodevelopmentalneurobiological disorder of behaviour, which is characterized from loss in three domains: social behaviour, status of contact-speech, interests. Also, autistic children have a strong hyperactivity status and many nutritional problems. Objective(s): The investigation of the correlation of the autistic children's hyperactivity status with major nutritional changes using elemental formula diet and testing these children for food allergies using Rast/Cap IgE tests. Design/Method: A total number of 45 children aged 2.5 to 8 years were checked. All of them were diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder (international criteria 1994). Also, all these children were checked for food allergies. From the 45 children, 17 were found having positive Cap IgE tests for cow milk allergy (class 1-3) and 3 of the 17 children had multinutritional allergy. Further, the 17 children group was randomly divided in two subgroups, 9 of the children started elemental formula (containing free aminoacids-Neocate) diet with exclusion of all milk products or milk containing food (group A) and the rest 8 children continued their previous diet (group B). The other 28 children group was also randomly divided in two subgroups, 13 children started elemental formula (containing free aminoacids-Neocate) diet with exclusion of all milk products or milk containing food (group C) and the rest 15 children continued their previous diet (group D). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 14.0 statistical software. The study was accepted by the hospital ethics committee. Result(s): After 4 months of observation, statistical significant differences (p<0.001) were found in hyperactivity status (measured using properly arranged questionnaire model and special scoring system for the therapist and the parents) between groups A and B, also between groups C and D, even comparing A+C to B+D groups. Also children in groups A and C showed significant clinical improvement compared to groups B and D. Conclusion(s): Children suffering from pervasive developmental disorder have increased hyperactivity status but it seems that oligoantigenic diet have much to offer in order to lower hyperactivity levels, not only in autistic children with proven food allergy, but in all of them.