INFLUÊNCIA DA RESTRIÇÃO DE GLUTEN E CASEÍNA EM PACIENTES COM TRANSTORNO DO ASPECTO AUTISTA

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder disrupts normal processes of social, cognitive and communicative development, usually manifesting itself up to three years of age and being prevalent in males. Studies look for factors that contribute to reducing the manifestation of specific symptoms or characteristics. Objective: to assess behavioral changes and symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders as a result of gluten and casein restriction in people with autism. Materials and methods: The study was submitted to the Research Ethics Committee of the Centro Universitário do Sul de Minas and carried out at Fundação Varginhense for the Assistance of Exceptional Children in Varginha Minas Gerais, in the second half of 2015. Eight autistic individuals aged between 2 and 2 were evaluated. 25 years. There was a dietary intervention, suggesting to parents the restriction of casein for 4 weeks and later on gluten for 7 weeks and 3 days, totaling 11 weeks and 3 days. Results: All volunteers showed improvement in at least one of the characteristic symptoms of the disorder. The symptom that showed the greatest evolution was aggressiveness in 62.5% (n 5), followed by stereotypy in 50% (n=4) of the volunteers (p=0.01). Regarding gastrointestinal symptoms, four mothers reported improvement after restriction of gluten and casein. Conclusion: Although more studies are needed to prove the effectiveness of the diet, the present study corroborates the results previously published. suggesting an improvement in the symptoms presented by autistic individuals and, consequently, in the quality of life after dietary intervention with gluten and casein restriction.