Autism, Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity

When researchers involved in a large, Swedish study evaluating the relationship between celiac disease (CD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) announced last year that they had been unable to find a definitive link between the two conditions, the media was quick to announce that there was no link between CD and ASD. But is that really what the study found? And why were they considering a link in the first place?

Celiac Disease and Autism: The History

Several studies have demonstrated a potential link between autism and celiac disease, and both diseases appear to have some connection to nutritional deficiencies and/or food sensitivities or allergies. Among the autism community, aversion or reactions to specific foods including gluten has been widely reported, and even experienced clinicians have confused diagnoses. In fact, in 2010 the Journal of Child Neurology reported the case of a five-year-old boy who had been diagnosed with severe autism. Additional testing revealed the child actually had celiac disease and was suffering from severe nutritional deficiencies related to malabsorption. Once a gluten-free diet was initiated and supplements were introduced, his symptoms of autism abated.

The Current Study’s Actual Findings

In the Swedish study, what they actually found was that in people who had been diagnosed with ASD before being evaluated for celiac disease, there was no association with developing CD; but, there was a greater risk of having elevated antibodies used to diagnose celiac disease and gluten sensitivity (IgA/IgG gliadin, endomysium, or tissue transglutaminase) both before and after diagnosis with ASD.

Specifically, they found that in children whose positive antibodies indicative of celiac disease was diagnosed first, the risk of developing autism in the future was 3 times greater than in healthy controls. In those diagnosed with ASD first, there was 4.5 times the risk of having positive serology. The authors suggest that rather than an association with CD, this finding may indicate an association of non-celiac gluten sensitivity with ASD.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, the authors state, “we found weak evidence of a link between ASDs and CD but a strong association between ASDs and positive CD serologic test results in individuals with normal mucosa”.

The take-home message here is that more research needs to be done before clinicians and researchers have a clearer and more definitive idea of how non-celiac gluten sensitivity and celiac disease are related to autism. In the meantime, what is clear is that both disorders can result in serious nutritional deficiencies; poor nutrition is, in essence, the tie that binds these two disorders together. Just last year, a meta-analysis published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found those with autism suffer from a wide range of serious nutritional deficiencies, and the link between celiac disease and nutritional deficiencies is amply reflected in dozens of studies.

For now and until an association between autism and CD is proven or disproven, along with a nutrient-rich diet, taking supplements can provide those with either or both disorders the nutrition they need to improve their health. CeliVites were designed to provide proper nutrition by relying on a special formula of highly-absorbable nutrients to ensure the body is getting the best nutrition possible. Click here, if you’d like to learn about the nutritional science behind our special formulas.

This original article is made possible by Gluten Free Therapeutics. Our mission is to educate, inform, and provide the most effective nutritional products possible to allow those with celiac disease and serious gluten intolerances to heal their bodies. CeliVites complete line of superior gluten free supplements includes multivitamin/multimineral supplements, iron supplements, and calcium supplements for people living with celiac disease. All CeliVites products are designed to help you heal, restore and rebuild your body, because going gluten free isn’t enough!