The Jan. 4 Associated Press article "Study: No evidence diets help autistic kids" was very misleading. The major thrust of the panels and researcher Dr. Timothy Buie's conclusion is that autistic children should have increased gastrointestinal evaluation and that gastrointestinal difficulties may be a primary cause of the behavioral problems. There is no one-diet-fits-all but rather the medical treatment should be specific to each child. To quote from the journal Pediatrics,
"Care providers should be aware that problem behavior in patients with autism may be the primary or sole symptom of the underlying medical conditions, including some gastrointestinal disorders. For these patients, integration of behavioral and medical care may be most beneficial."
The panel recommended further research into the effectiveness of nutritional intervention, and priorities for future research are identified to advance our understanding and management of gastrointestinal disorders in persons with autism.
