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AAPI’S NUTRITION GUIDE TO OPTIMAL HEALTH: USING PRINCIPLES OF FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS percent of children under the age of 18 were reported to have a food allergy; with children under the age of 5 have a higher rate (76). There is evidence that indicates there may be an increased incidence of food allergies among children with autism and related disorders, such as ADHD, compared to the general population of children (77, 78, 79, 80). Children with autism may be more vulnerable to food allergies because of abnormalities in their digestive and/or immune systems (81). Research also supports a link between food allergies and behavioral problems (82, 83). The following foods are responsible for 90 percent of allergic reactions: � Milk � Wheat � Soy � Egg � Peanuts � Tree nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazel, and Brazil nuts) � Fish � Shellfish Milk, wheat, soy, egg, and peanuts are the most common food allergens in children under the age of three. Allergic reactions to fish and shellfish are more common in adults and allergic reactions to fruits and vegetables also tend to occur later in life. What is Food Sensitivity? Food sensitivity is a general term used to describe an abnormal reaction to a food or food additive. Food sensitivity is different from a food allergy because the reaction does not involve the immune system. Food sensitivity symptoms are virtually identical to those of an allergy, but they tend to be much milder. If the child is sensitive to a particular food, he is most likely reacting to the artificial food additives in the food as opposed to the food itself. The most common artificial additives that the child may react to are sulfites, aspartame, MSG, yellow dye No. 5, and the preservatives BHT and BHA. 130 What is Food Intolerance? Food intolerance does not involve the immune system. It occurs when something in a food irritates a person’s digestive system or when a person has too few or none of the enzymes that enable him to properly digest a food. For instance, if the child has too few or is missing the enzymes necessary to break down carbohydrates in the small intestines, the carbohydrates pass undigested into the colon where they ferment and produce excess gas, bloating, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. The three most common carbohydrate food intolerances are lactose, sucrose, and fructose. Classic Food Reaction Symptoms: � Ears: otitis media (ear infections) � Nose: nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose � Eyes: tearing, puffy eyes, dark circles under eyes � Oral: swelling of lips, tongue, mouth, and throat � Skin: hives, eczema, red cheeks, itching � Respiratory: difficulty breathing, cough, wheezing, asthma � Intestinal: reflux, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation � Neurological: headache, migraine, and behavioral problems such as tantrums, irritability, and hyperactivity How to Identify Problematic Foods - If a food reaction is suspected, a referral to a boardcertified allergist for a definitive diagnosis is warranted. The allergist will perform a physical exam, review the child’s medical and dietary history, and order diagnostic tests to rule out other medical conditions. An IgE RAST and skin prick test are ordered to help identify an IgE mediated food allergy. If the IgE RAST or skin prick test is positive, the physician should conduct a physician-supervised oral food challenge to confirm positive test results. Since an IgE RAST and skin prick test can not identify non-IgE mediated food allergies, a short-term elimination/challenge diet is required to identify any non-IgE mediated food allergies. 2012
AAPI’S NUTRITION GUIDE TO OPTIMAL HEALTH: USING PRINCIPLES OF FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS A short-term elimination/challenge diet involves two basic steps: Eliminate the suspected food from the child’s diet for at least 2 weeks. This will give the child’s allergy symptoms time to subside. If the child has EE, EG, and/or EC, the suspected food allergens need to be eliminated for 8 to 12 weeks to achieve symptom improvement. The first foods eliminated are those that had positive IgE RAST and/or skin prick test results. If both of these tests were negative, eliminate the most common allergenic foods: milk, wheat, soy, egg, peanuts, nuts, fish, and shellfish. The challenge phase involves reintroducing the eliminated food back into the diet and observe for recurrence of allergy symptoms. An excellent resource of educational materials and more detailed information related to food allergies, including list of foods and ingredients to avoid can be found on the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) Web site at www.foodallergy.org. A referral to a Registered Dietitian is necessary to assist parents in implementing the elimination/challenge diet; parents should not attempt to implement this diet on their own. Identifying which foods a child may react to is complicated, test results are difficult to interpret, Elizabeth Strickland is a Registered Dietitian specializing in integrative Nutrition Therapy for infants, children, and young adults with developmental disabilities, chronic illnesses, and special health care needs. Elizabeth’s area of expertise includes Autism Spectrum Disorders. She has over 30 years of experience ranging from providing individual Nutrition Therapy, training professionals and parents, and coordinating Nutrition Services statewide for children with disabilities. Elizabeth is the founder of ASD Nutrition Seminars & Consulting, a clinical nutrition consulting firm that serves families, professionals, educational systems, and private and government programs. Her work expands nationwide to include providing individualized nutrition therapy to children with autism and related disorders. 131 current blood lab and skin tests are not always accurate, some allergy tests are controversial, and treatment is challenging. Even so, identifying and treating the child’s food reactions has enormous benefits. The child will experience a wide range of physical, gastrointestinal, behavioral, and neurological improvements. Identifying problematic foods is a critical step in nutritional treatment for a child with autism. SUMMARY Integrative nutritional interventions can have a major impact on a child with autism. Use of whole foods, nutritional supplements, natural healing of the gut, and eliminating problematic foods are essential in restoring the child’s nutritional health. Although it varies for each individual child, after implementing appropriate nutrition interventions, one may expect to see improvements in the child’s behavior, mood, aggression, impulsivity, learning, attention, language, focus, eye contact, sleep difficulties, gastrointestinal problems, growth, and overall health. Registered Dietitians play a key role in incorporating nutrition therapy as a component of the child’s comprehensive treatment plan. Elizabeth is a published author, the title of her book is ‚Eating for Autism … The 10-Step Nutrition Plan to Help Treat Your Child’s Autism, Asperger’s, or ADHD‛. She is a member of the Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine Dietetic Practice Group of The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Louisiana State University and a Master of Science degree in Nutrition from the University of Georgia. She completed Post Graduate training on Nutrition Therapy for Children with Special Health Care Needs. Contact Elizabeth Strickland at ASDpuzzle@aol.com or 830-237-2886 Website: www.ASDpuzzle.com References: 2012
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functional medicine and nutritional genomics - American Association ...

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