I ran across two articles today, both addressing some “alternative” approaches to autism. The first article, Diet change gives hyperactive kids new taste for life in Norway, is specifically about children diagnosed with ADHD. But the diet is the casein-free, gluten-free diet used by many families of children with autism. The article describes research following 23 children for the last decade who had been diagnosed with ADHD and had started casein-free, and in some cases, gluten-free diets.

All 23 of the children that were the part of this study were found to have abnormal levels of peptides in their urine. The theory is that these peptides are in the children’s bodies, but do not show up in their urine, instead accumulating in organs, like the brain, where they can have an opium-like effect.

The research indicates that only about 10% of children with ADHD have this abnormal absence of peptides in their urine. So some in the traditional medical community are skeptical as to whether removing casein (the protein in dairy products) is the appropriate “treatment” for ADHD, or even autism.

My personal experience is that removing casein from LuLu’s diet has been helpful. She has been on a casein-free diet since 2006. Did is cure her of ADHD or autism? No. But it did reduce some of her overall agitation. What was really telling was what happens when she accidently gets casein. At first it would cause an almost immediate behavioral reaction. These days, it’s much more likely to cause an upset stomach or even a small rash.

The article talks about the children actually noticing the difference in their ability to function after eating the casein or gluten.

The second article is from the Huffington Post, the online newspaper, and is written by David Kirby of Evidence of Harm fame.

The article talks about a court case in which the Federal Claims Court concedes that mercury-containing vaccines were the cause of this child’s "regressive encephalopathy (brain disease) with features consistent with autistic spectrum disorder”.

With another 4900 autism cases pending, this court decision could be a big one. The court concluded that compensation is appropriate.

Of course, in the written decision, the government cited that the child had a pre-existing mitochondrial disorder that was "aggravated" by her shots, and which ultimately resulted in an ASD diagnosis.

This brings mitochondrial disorder, and it’s higher prevalence in children with ASD to the forefront. And it opens the door, even if it’s just slightly, for all those other families out there lined up to be heard in federal court.

David Kirby makes no bones about his opinions about mercury causing autism. But regardless of any of our opinions, the fact that a Federal court agreed is a very interesting development in this on-going, heated debate.