A review of the effectiveness of various diet types on autism

Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprises a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions marked by impaired communication and abnormal social and behavioral function, typically identified within the first two years of life. Diet and nutrition have been proposed as modifiable factors that may influence symptom severity and quality of life in affected children. Objective: To review the effectiveness of various dietary interventions in improving quality of life and gastrointestinal symptoms among children with ASD. Methods: A narrative review of open-access literature published between 2000 and 2022, retrieved from PubMed, the Directory of Open Access Journals, Google Scholar, and Semantic Scholar using MeSH keywords ‘autism diet types,’ ‘autism,’ and ‘autism spectrum disorders.’ Four widely discussed dietary interventions were selected for detailed appraisal. Results: Dietary interventions such as the Mediterranean, gluten-free/casein-free, ketogenic, and other specialized diets were reported across studies to alter gut microbiota composition and to influence gastrointestinal and behavioral symptoms in children with ASD, though the magnitude and consistency of benefit varied by diet type and study population. Conclusion: Children with ASD, particularly those with gastrointestinal comorbidities, may benefit from individualized nutritional intervention to support quality of life and slow symptom progression. Further comparative research is required to establish the relative effectiveness of specific diet types.