ADHD gluten connection?
#361057 - 09/21/10 07:46 AM
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I've been hearing that kids with ADHD might benefit from a gluten free diet. Does anyone have personal experience with this? My 7 year old grandson is very hyper (not on meds) but I don't think he could survive without his PBJ's! Thanks for any advice.
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Food is not the cause of ADHD. No single cause has been identified. You might find this brief description of the causes on the University of Maryland Medical Center and the National Institute of Health of interest.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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I believe diet plays a big role in all illnesses. Gluten-free is working for kids with autism, so I feel it's worth a try. Of course, diet would affect kids. I think moreso than adults. Good luck!
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A 2009 review of 15 gluten free - casein free (GFCF) clinical trials published in the journal Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders showed that "Critical analysis of each study's methodological rigor and results reveal that the current corpus of research does not support the use of GFCF diets in the treatment of ASD".
It would be a shame to put a child on such a restricted diet without solid evidence that there are real benefits. As always - when in doubt check with a physician. 
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Quote:
Food is not the cause of ADHD. No single cause has been identified.
Well, one can't help but note . . . food is not the cause of IBS, either. No single cause of IBS has been identified, either. Yet this site is testimony that manipulating diet has helped many folks with IBS . . . Diet, including gluten intake, is an extremely logical area for parents dealing w/ADHD to explore, IMHO.
Quote:
It would be a shame to put a child on such a restricted diet without solid evidence that there are real benefits.
I completely disagree.
An awful lot of people are very glad that Heather experimented w/restricting her own diet with no solid evidence of real benefits!
Since there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of a connection between gluten (and other foods) and individual cases of ADHD, it makes sense to me for a parent who might suspect a connection in his own child's case to be considering this. In fact, if my child's life would be less limited by avoiding gluten temporarily than it already was by severe ADHD, I would actually consider it a shame *NOT* to put him on such a restricted diet even without solid evidence that there are real benefits. Frankly, in my dealings w/a child w/IBS, an extremely restricted diet has been much easier on the child than living w/her severe IBS was. (For that matter, it has also been much easier on her than the recommended medical testing was, and the majority of that actually did not produce any helpful info! Even if manipulating diet had not helped, it certainly has not stressed her anywhere near as much as the accepted medical stuff did.)
Just wanted to provide a different viewpoint to consider, here.
kem (daughter w/ibs-d)
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Kem
#361172 - 09/29/10 03:36 PM
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Gerikat
Reged: 06/21/09
Posts: 1285
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Well said!
We could always go directly to powerful drugs with dangerous side effects as the powers-that-be would have us do. Hmmm...it's a no-brainer for me...drugs or diet? I don't need science/research to say it's OK!
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