Gluten-free / Casein-free

A dietary intervention is the first approach when starting the biomedical treatment.
As Dr. Paul Shattock found in his study a high percentage of people with autism appear to have elevated levels of substances with properties similar to those expected from opioid peptides reserchers presumed they resulted from the imcomplete break down of certain foods.

Proteins are long chains of amino acids. Normally, intestinal enzymes are responsible for digesting them, braking the bonds that connect the amino acids. It is believed that changes in DNA can result in specific enzymes being unable to do their work.
The enzymes have an active site into wich fits the protein it is designed to digest. If through genetic mutation an enzyme is altered, the protein no longer fits in its active site. This leaves amino acids bound to short chains called peptides. The most common proteins known to have the opioid effect when broken down into peptides are gluten and casein.

Next post will be about Leaky Gut. It will expalain better why it is beneficial to implement the gluten-free/casein-free diet.