Gliadomorphin, casomorphin, and intestinal fatty acid binding protein in children with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Diet therapy for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) remains one of the most popular alternative therapies. despite conflicting opinions regarding the effectiveness of the dietary approach. According to the theory of exorphin intoxication, gluten and casein peptides enter the bloodstream through the mucous membrane of the small intestine, penetrate the blood-brain barrier and affect the neurons of the cerebral cortex. The wellknown hypothesis of the relationship between autism and gluten intolerance is based on this theory. The aim of this work was to study the correlation between the blood concentration of intestinal fatty acid - binding protein (I-FABP) and gliadomorphin and casomorphin as markers of opioid intoxication, depending on the use of diet therapy in children with ASD. Material and methods. The study included 85 patients aged 3 to 15 years with an established diagnosis of ASD. The first group consisted of 36 children who followed a gluten-free diet (GFD) for at least 6 months, 3 of them also followed a casein-free diet (CFD), the second group included 49 patients with ASD who had no dietary restrictions. The concentration of I-FABP, gliadomorphin, and casomorphin in the blood serum was determined by enzyme immunoassay in all patients. Results. In children with ASD who followed GDD, the average values of the studied parameters were significantly lower than in patients with ASD who have no dietary restrictions: gliadomorphine - 0.98±1.27 vs 1.68±0.97 ng/ml, casomorphine - 1.62± 0.76 vs 2.37±0.53 pg/ml, I-FABP - 156.2±102.16 vs 528.26±255.95 pg/ml (p0.01). In patients with ASD using diet therapy, there was a significant increase in gliadomorifin (r=0.64, p=0.0001) and casomorphin (r=0.53, p=0.001) with an increase in I-FABP. In children with ASD, not adhering GFD, there was also an increase in blood gliadomorphin (r=0.30, p=0.036) with an increase in I-FABP level; this trend was not observed relative to casomorphin (r=-0.0050, p=0.973). Perhaps, with the expansion of the sample, this pattern will also be observed in children who are on a regular diet. Conclusion. When including diet therapy in the therapeutic treatment of autism, it is necessary to take into account the individual intolerance to gluten and casein, conduct additional examinations in order to specify the nature of the intolerance and the need to prescribe a diet.