Effectiveness of the Gluten-Free Casein-Free for Reducing Behavioral Symptoms in Autism

Autism is a neurological developmental disorder that affects an individual’s ability to communicate, interact socially, as well as their behavior and interests. The symptoms typically begin to appear before the child reaches the age of three, and they can vary in severity and manifestation in each individual. One type of therapy that may help reduce autistic behaviors is the gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet, which involves avoiding foods that contain both gluten and casein. This study aims to examine the relationship between the implementation of the GFCF diet and the behaviors of children with autism. A cross-sectional design approach was used for this research, conducted at the Child Development Clinic, Joglo. Sampling was performed using a total sampling technique, resulting in 31 respondents who were children on the autism spectrum who had been diagnosed by expert doctors. A modified Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to measure the GFCF diet compliance level variable. The ICHD-10 behavior sheet questionnaire was used to measure the autistic behavior score. Based on the results of the Spearman test, a p-value of 0.045 and a correlation coefficient of -0.363 were obtained, indicating a significant relationship between the Gluten-Free Casein-Free (GFCF) diet and the behaviors of autistic children. The implementation of the GFCF diet has had an able impact on the development of autistic children, particularly in reducing autistic behaviors