Wednesday, March 12, 2008
I have a 9-year old grandson whom I help take care of who has ADHD. He was diagnosed by a child psychiatrist, who put him on Ritalin. While Ritalin was effective, I and his parents were uncomfortable with using drugs. We were advised by a psychologist to try dietary intervention, using a gluten-free, casein-free diet. We started the diet agbout nine months ago, and we took him off Ritalin. We saw improvement in his ability to focus within a few days, and he has continued to improve. While we make much of the food for him ourselves, we supplement our efforts by buying gluten-free, casein-free food for him through an internet source called www.gfMeals.com. Their food is delicious...we eat a lot of it ourselves. And, they ship all over the country, with reasonable shipping charges. If you haven't tried this yet, I highly recommend it.
Hey DaveK,
I personally know a number of people who have significantly benefited from a gluten-free diet, though I don't know of anyone using the diet as a treatment for ADD.
I'm concerned for your grandson. While the gluten-free diet may be helping him as evidenced by his response, the casein-free diet may harm him.
It's estimated that 1 out of 133 people are affected by celiac disease, a condition that improves greatly with a gluten-free diet. The diet requires elimination of wheat, rye, barley, and derivatives of these grains from the diet.
For more information on gluten sensitivities or intolerance, celiac disease, and dermatitis herpetiformis - (conditions that significantly improve with a gluten-free diet) - go to Gluten Intolerance Group of North America's website at http://www.gluten.net/. Put your curser on "Health Information" in the left column, then click on "Printable Materials", then click on "Gluten Insensitivities".
GIG is a non-profit organization. All educational materials are reviewed and approved by medical doctors on their medical advisory board.
There is a lot of helpful information on the website including listings of local groups by state. Just click on "Branches and Partners" in the left column.
I learned from Wikapedia - (search "gluten-free, casein free diet):
- casein is found in milk and cheese
- a casein-free diet may contribute to calcium and vitamin D deficiencies that lead to decreased bone development and increased risk of broken bones
- the gluten-free, casein-free diet, is a controversial treatment for autism
- some studies have been completed suggesting no benefit for children with autism and that a study by NIMH has not yet concluded.
I'm glad your grandson is doing better. But please remember, diet and nutritional supplements, not just medication, have the potential to help or harm.
Grandma Lise
Hi Grandma Lise,
Thank you for your very thoughtful response. With regard to your concern that removing casein might be harmful, in actuality the removal of casein made the most drastic improvement. Within three days of removing casein, my grandson had no issues with hyperfocus for the first time in his life.
My daughter gives him numerous supplements including calcium. She is following what's known as a biomedical approach to treating ADHD. My grandson is under an osteopathic doctor's care in addition to his regular pediatrician.
Children with ADHD generally have digestive dysfunction, as well as lower immune systems and problems with natural detoxification. Since we identified this, we have decided as a family to treat my grandson with a more natural approach that involves boosting his immune system, treating his inflammation, chelating heavy metals out of his system, and dietary intervention.
Hey Dave,
The sequence of this thread isn't going to make any sense to people...oh dear...
Thanks for your reply. I feel so much better now that I know your grandson is receiving care from a D.O., which is similar to a M.D. in education. I also am reassured to learn that he is taking nutritional supplements to replace the nutrients that the diet eliminated.
I have a good friend who has studied orthomolecular treatments for mental illness for twelve years. Through the use of specific nutritional supplement strategies, she has significantly restored her family's health. Perhaps I'll write a review here on her newest book after it's published.
I am an advocate of all treatments that help people so long as any potential harm is minimized.
I hope you write more here about this approach to treating your grandson.
Was hyperfocusing a problem for your grandson prior to treatment? I'm interested in hearing more about that.
Grandma Lise
Hi Lise,
Yes Hyperfocus was a problem before treatment. If he was watching TV, you would have to walk between him and the TV to get his attention. Within three days of taking him off casein, I was able to walk into the room, say hi to him, and have him return the greeting. Hyperfocus is no longer a problem.
Hey Davek,
Asperger's and autism is an area of interest for me. Over the years I've met ADD adults who also have Asperger's.
I did a search on Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!), then went to the www.autism.com website and downloaded and watched the video on the home page. I then looked for an overview of the treatment you are describing and found it...finally.
What the autism community is doing is so inspiring. They are surveying huge numbers of families and asking them how well the various treatments including medication, nutritional supplements, and other specific treatments worked.
For more information on this treatment for asperger's and autism, go to www.autism.com. In the left column click on "Treating Autism", then scroll down to "The Biomedical Approach", then just below that, click on "Summary of Biomedical Treatments".
The final page was also interesting. I was surprised to read that significant numbers of children with asperger's and autism get worse on stimulants, while others get better. I'm going to speculate that the children with a dual diagnosis of asperger's and ADD are the one's that improve, but I don't know one way or the other.
I'm curious. You mentioned that the Doctor of Osteopathy who is treating your grandson is treating many other children too. How many have Asperger's? How many have ADD? And how many have a combination of both?
You are the first person I've talked with who has mentioned using this treatment for ADD (and I've talked to a lot of ADD adults!)
Grandma Lise
Hi Lise,
I'm very familiar with the site you referenced. Not knowing the details of her practice, I can not answer your question. However, if you want to contact her, her name is Dr. Rachel West. She is in Venice, CA. And, so far, we are very impressed with her. I don't have her contact info. But, I'm sure you can look her up on www.switchboard.com or go to the directory of DAN! practitioners on the ARI site.
One thing that I can tell you is that DAN! practitioners believe that ADHD and ADD are the highest functioning conditions on the autism spectrum. And, they share many of the same modalities. If you talk to the owners of www.gfMeals.com, they are also very knowledgeable in this area. They got into this business because they wanted to help autistic kids. And, now they are very involved in the autism and DAN! communities.
Thanks Davek. If your daughter is willing and has the opportunity, I'd love it if she'd ask the doctor, perhaps at a future appointment for your grandson.
I've greatly enjoyed talking with you and learning more about biomedical treatments. So glad your grandson has found a treatment that works for him.
Grandma Lise
Hi Lise,
Will do. I've enjoyed speaking with you as well. If you want to learn a lot more, and see some very inspiring videos, go to http://www.autism.com/treatable/recovered/recovered2006videos.htm. I know you were on this site before. But, if you did not watch the videos on this page, you have really missed something inspirational.