Mohammad Reza Khakzad1, Maryam Javanbakht2, Atefeh Soltanifar3, Maryam Hojati4, Mehrdad Delgosha5, Mojtaba Meshkat6. 1. Department of Immunology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran, Postal Code: 9133736351; Zakariya Research center, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran. 2. Psychiatrics Department, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran. 3. Department of Psychiatrics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. 4. Noor Hedayat Center of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Mashhad, Iran. 5. Pediatrics Department, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran. 6. Department of Immunology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran, Postal Code: 9133736351.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite many efforts, the etiology of autism remains unknown. Food allergy has been suggested as a pathogenic factor in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Our aim in this study was to determine whether food allergy could be considered as a risk factor for autistic children. METHODS: Thirty-nine autistic children were examined by the skin prick test (SPT), and total serum IgE was evaluated by ELISA. SPTs were performed for egg whites, oranges, peanuts, tomatoes, tuna fish, walnuts, aubergines, melons, grapes, and cow milk. Parents and teachers were then asked to exclude these items from the childrens' diets for six months. After the treatment period, the autistic children who tested positive for food allergies were re-assessed by a standard questionnaire to obtain further information about their medical histories. RESULTS: Three of the study's 39 autistic children (7.7%) tested positive on the SPT. Total serum IgE levels were elevated in 56.4% of the subjects (mean=164±24.5, cut-off >155 IU/ml). The results showed a decreased mean in the childrens' autistic behaviors on the Children Autism Rating Scale (CARS) after both eight weeks and six months; however, this decrease was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Food allergy may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism. We conclude that avoidance of certain foods benefits the behavior of autistic children.
BACKGROUND: Despite many efforts, the etiology of autism remains unknown. Food allergy has been suggested as a pathogenic factor in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Our aim in this study was to determine whether food allergy could be considered as a risk factor for autisticchildren. METHODS: Thirty-nine autisticchildren were examined by the skin prick test (SPT), and total serum IgE was evaluated by ELISA. SPTs were performed for egg whites, oranges, peanuts, tomatoes, tuna fish, walnuts, aubergines, melons, grapes, and cow milk. Parents and teachers were then asked to exclude these items from the childrens' diets for six months. After the treatment period, the autisticchildren who tested positive for food allergies were re-assessed by a standard questionnaire to obtain further information about their medical histories. RESULTS: Three of the study's 39 autisticchildren (7.7%) tested positive on the SPT. Total serum IgE levels were elevated in 56.4% of the subjects (mean=164±24.5, cut-off >155 IU/ml). The results showed a decreased mean in the childrens' autistic behaviors on the ChildrenAutism Rating Scale (CARS) after both eight weeks and six months; however, this decrease was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION:Food allergy may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism. We conclude that avoidance of certain foods benefits the behavior of autisticchildren.
Authors: Aishwarya P Yadama; Rachel S Kelly; Kathleen Lee-Sarwar; Hooman Mirzakhani; Su H Chu; Priyadarshini Kachroo; Augusto A Litonjua; Jessica Lasky-Su; Scott T Weiss Journal: Brain Behav Immun Date: 2019-10-10 Impact factor: 7.217