Do Food Allergies Worsen Autism?

Jenny Yoon

Written by Jenny Yoon, RHN, SSP Provider

Food allergies are abnormal immune responses to substances that create inflammation, which impacts multiple body systems. This inflammation releases chemicals that send signals to the brain, affecting its functioning and influencing emotions, behavior, and cognition.
a girl eating cereal

There is a strong link between allergies and children with autism, which can result in more frequent infections and other immune deficient disorders. In particular, food allergies are more than twice as common among autistic children compared to their typical peers.

This blog will explore in depth the link between food allergy and ASD.

 

What is Food Allergy, Intolerance, or Sensitivity?

 

Food allergies are abnormal immune responses to substances, usually proteins, found in food. The immune system mistakenly identifies these proteins as harmful and releases chemicals to fight against them, resulting in allergic symptoms.

Food allergy is often mistaken for food intolerances or food sensitivity.

On the other hand, food intolerance, such as lactose or gluten intolerance, may cause symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, or diarrhea. Food intolerance is less severe than a food allergy, as the immune system does not respond as strongly when the person consumes the intolerant food.

These conditions are similar and can be challenging to differentiate. However, true allergic symptoms are limited to the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and skin.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Allergies

 

  • Runny nose or sneezing
  • Dark or puffy circles under the eyes
  • Bloating or puffiness in the face
  • Migraine headaches
  • Hyperactivity
  • Insomnia
  • Bed-wetting or uncontrolled urination
  • Pain or tenderness around the cheeks, eyes, or forehead
  • Coughing, wheezing, or breathlessness
  • Itchy skin or a raised rash
  • Diarrhea or vomiting

 

Common offending foods:

Some common offending foods include milk, wheat, chocolate, eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts, soybeans, pork, and oranges.

 

The Link Between Allergy and ASD

 

According to a study (reference 1), food allergies are more than twice as common children with autism compared to their typical peers.

The study involved 199,520 children. Among them, 4.31% had a food allergy, 12.15% had a respiratory allergy, and 9.91% had a skin allergy. A diagnosis of ASD was reported in 0.95% of the children. The prevalence of reported food, respiratory, and skin allergies was higher in children with ASD (11.25%, 18.73%, and 16.81%, respectively) compared to children without ASD (4.25%, 12.08%, and 9.84%, respectively).

 

What is the impact on cognition and behavior?

 

The brain and gut communicate with each other all the time. When your child has a food allergy, it triggers inflammation in the body. This inflammation releases chemicals that send signals to the brain, affecting its functioning and influencing emotions, behavior, and cognition.

Anxiety and depression are linked to inflammatory bowel disease. If gut inflammation persists for a prolonged period, it can increase the likelihood of brain and behavioral changes. The longer the inflammation persists, the greater its impact on the brain.

 

How to address food allergies?

 

1. Tracking & Elimination

 

Begin by documenting your child’s food intake for three days. ( Click Here to download free 3-days food journal)

Circle any common allergens present in their daily diet.

Eliminate these allergens from their diet for approximately two weeks

Reintroduce them one at a time to observe any potential reactions.

Note: Alternatively, you can have your child tested by an allergist. However, it may still be beneficial to bring along your child’s food journal during the appointment.

 

2. Boost the Immune System:

 

Omega -3 and antioxidants (vitamin A, C, E and selenium) play a crucial role in supporting the immune system and addressing the allergy symptoms.

 

Here are some examples of antioxidant-rich foods that you can include in your child’s diet:

  1. Vitamin A: Sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, kale, and apricots are excellent sources of Vitamin A.
  2. Vitamin C: Citrus fruits like oranges, strawberries, kiwi, and bell peppers are packed with Vitamin C.
  3. Vitamin E: Nuts and seeds, such as almonds, sunflower seeds, and hazelnuts, are rich in Vitamin E.
  4. Selenium: Brazil nuts, seafood (such as tuna and shrimp), and whole grains like brown rice are good sources of selenium.

3. Work on the gut health:

 

Full-spectrum enzyme and high-strength probiotic will be helpful.

It is not uncommon for one’s favorite food to be the major offender that makes the elimination diet much harder.

Sometimes, these food particles are not properly broken down due to a lack of enzymes, eating too quickly, or eating while stressed.

Working on digestion by adding a full spectrum enzyme can be the first step to address these issues.

Probiotics also play a key role in improving gut health.

Furthermore, when the gut becomes leaky, it can allow undesired food particles to enter the bloodstream, which can be an underlying cause of issues.

 

4. Managing stress:

 

Stress reduces digestion and impairs gut function, as well as weakens the immune system. Consequently, chronic stress can worsen food allergies and other allergies.

 

Final Thoughts

 

There is still a lot of debate about whether allergy symptoms affect ASD symptoms or if elimination diets are effective.

However, certain things are clear: inflammation in the gut affects brain activity, and chronic inflammation can alter brain function, which in turn affects mood, behavior, and cognition.

If a child with autism is struggling with food allergies or poor gut function, their mood, behavior, and cognition may be impacted, potentially worsening autism symptoms.

Addressing food allergies often requires significant effort and time. Therefore, it may be wise to consult health professionals such as nutritionists and dietitians.

In my experience, addressing stress management, digestion and gut health, and food allergies while boosting the immune system has been successful in eliminating food allergies.

 

Reference:

  1. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2683952
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6324407/
  3. https://www.ajmc.com/view/is-there-a-link-between-autism-food-allergies-study-offers-hint-but-no-answers
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10661239/#:~:text=Our

 

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