title: The evaluation of food allergy on behavior in autistic children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite many efforts, the etiology of autism remains unknown. Food allergy has been suggested as a pathogenic factor in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Our aim in this study was to determine whether food allergy could be considered as a risk factor for autistic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine autistic children were examined by the skin prick test (SPT), and total serum IgE was evaluated by ELISA. SPTs were performed for egg whites, oranges, peanuts, tomatoes, tuna fish, walnuts, aubergines, melons, grapes, and cow milk. Parents and teachers were then asked to exclude these items from the childrens' diets for six months. After the treatment period, the autistic children who tested positive for food allergies were re-assessed by a standard questionnaire to obtain further information about their medical histories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three of the study's 39 autistic children (7.7%) tested positive on the SPT. Total serum IgE levels were elevated in 56.4% of the subjects (mean=164±24.5, cut-off >155 IU/ml). The results showed a decreased mean in the childrens' autistic behaviors on the Children Autism Rating Scale (CARS) after both eight weeks and six months; however, this decrease was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Food allergy may play a role in the pathophysiology of autism. We conclude that avoidance of certain foods benefits the behavior of autistic children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran, Postal Code: 9133736351; Zakariya Research center, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khakzad
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrics Department, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Javanbakht
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatrics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Atefeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soltanifar
authors.affiliation: Noor Hedayat Center of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hojati
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Department, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delgosha
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran, Postal Code: 9133736351.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meshkat
keywords: Autism; Food allergy; Skin prick test