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Autism encompasses
a spectrum of developmental
disorders and there is very
strong empirical evidence
that this spectrum of disorders
has a genetic origin with
at least three chromosomes
identified as having a likely
link to Autism (IMGSAC,
2001). However, Wakefield
and his colleagues have
suggested an association
between chronic gastrointestinal
difficulties and Autism
and suggested that Autism
and bowel problems were
triggered by the MMR vaccine.
This work was somewhat suspect
in the soundness of the
methods used and prompted
a number of researchers
to investigate these claims.
Fombonne and Chakrabarti
(2001) did an extensive
survey of the potential
relation between Autism
and the MMR vaccine and
found that there was no
evidence for a relationship
between the vaccine and
Autism. Brent Taylor and
his colleagues (2002) conducted
a study with nearly 500
children with an Autistic
Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
and found no relationship
between the MMR vaccine
and bowel problems. In addition,
Black, Kaye and Jick (2002)
published a study comparing
the prevalence of GI disorders
in children with an ASD
to typically developing
children. They found that
children with ASD were no
more likely to have a GI
problem than were their
age-matched peers. These
studies strongly indicate
that there is no link between
the gut and Autism.
The gut theory of Autism
has produced much interest
in dietary treatment for
Autism. For children who
have documented food allergies
or intolerance, dietary
restriction as directed
by a competent physician
can be quite important.
On the other hand, dietary
restrictions or fad diets
used as treatment for ASD
have not been supported
by sound research. The benefits
of these approaches are
unproven (see NYSDHEIP,
1999 for a summary) and
given the restrictions these
diets place upon the foods
presented to the child,
dietary restriction can
lead to the worsening of
poor eating or directly
produce problematic feeding.
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Black, C., Kaye,J., &
Jick, H. (2002). Relation
of childhood GI disorders
to autism: Nested case-control
study using data from the
UK General Practice Research
Database. British Medical
Journal, 325, 429-421.
Fombonne, E. & Chakrabarti,
S. (2001). No evidence for
a new variant of measles-mumps-rubella-induced
autism. Pediatrics,
108, E58.
International Molecular
Genetic Study of Autism
Consortium (2001). A genomewide
screen for autism: Strong
evidence for linkage to
chromosomes 2q, 7q, and
16p. American Journal
of Human Genetics,
69, 570-581.
New York State Department
of Health Early Intervention
Program. (1999). Clinical
Practice Guideline: Report
of the Recommendations.
Autism/Pervasive Developmental
Disorders, Assessment and
Intervention for Young Children
(Age 0-3 Years) (Publication
No. 4215, pp. 163-194).
Albany, NY: Author.
Taylor, B. et al. (2002).
MMR vaccination and bowel
problems or developmental
regression in children with
autism: Population study.
British Medical Journal,
324, 393-396.
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