Objectives: Genetic and environmental factors is suggested to play a role in the etiology of Autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The aim of the study was to investigate the link between specific food intolerances and autism spectrum disorders, by comparing the food Intolerance test in children with ASD and typically developing children without known food allergy or mental disorders.
Patients and Methods: This study included 100 patients diagnosed as ASD who attended the phoniatrics clinic in Dubai hospital in the period from Jun 2017 to Jun 2019. The control group involved 50 typically developing children. The diagnosis and severity of autism confirmed by childhood autism rating scale (CARS) and DSM V criteria. Food Intolerance test analyses IgG antibody levels to 222 specific foods to ascertain which food a person might be intolerant to.
Results: The outcome measures were the percentage of children with elevated IgG in different food items and the mean level of IgG in each food item. The percentage of ASD children with positive food intolerance were 96% for milk, 94% for egg white, 96% for casein, 62% for gliadin, 74% for oat and 80% for wheat. There was a significantly higher level of IgG concentration (U/ml) in ASD than control group.
Conclusions: A high prevalence of food intolerance was identified in the ASD children . The results of the present study suggested the presence of food intolerance to multiple food items in children with ASD suggesting their possible roles in ASD etiology or symptomatology.