Elimination Diets Helps Children with ADHD and Autism

A new study uncovered the powerful effects of an elimination diet on children with ADHD. The study called, The Impact of Nutrition On Children with ADHD (INCA), was published in the Lancet in February 2011.

It is so wonderful to see a mainstream journal recognizing the powerful effects of diet on behavioral (and physical) symptoms and publish these findings. Many children with autism and well as their siblings have ADHD and would benefit from the recommendations noted from this study. As well as having an affect ADHD, elimination diets also have positive effect on many of the other symptoms of autism. As such, the INCA study is valuable insight in support of diet for children with autism, and I am glad it is finally reaching the mainstream.

An elimination diet for ADHD was among the first nutritional interventions I discovered over ten years ago when I first researched ADHD and food. Among my recommendations in my initial research paper was a trial of the removal of foods or food components that are suspected to be problematic – i.e. an “elimination” diet.

And indeed, the links noted between food and behavior are very apt to the entire autism spectrum. While many parents have been seeing good results, doctors demanded research before they could support the notion. Here’s that research.

One hundred children participated in the recent Lancet study. Half were assigned to each of two groups–50 children followed a 5-week elimination diet and 50 children were the control group (healthy) diet. Researchers began with a very elaborate elimination diet, and if behavioral problems still persisted after two weeks the particular child was put on an even more restrictive diet of only rice, turkey, pear, lettuce, and water