Can The Ketogenic Diet Improve Autism Spectrum Disorder? From Perspectives on Diversity Interventions and Treatment

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an extensive spectrum of abnormalities, inclusive of metabolic, mitochondrial, immune, inflammatory, and behavioral dysfunction in multiple parts of the body, resulting in multiple symptoms and disrupting an individual’s ability to communicate, form relationships, develop life skills, explore, play, and learn. In recent years, the low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diet (KD) has gained popularity and been viewed as a promising non-pharmacological treatment for patients with ASD. Not only has this dietary regimen been successfully used in treating pediatric epilepsy, one of common co-occurring ASD symptoms, for over a century, but some studies have also been shown beneficial effects in lessening various other comorbid disorders (e.g., seizures and mood disorders) and behavioral deficits. This article's major objective is to briefly retrospected the literature pertaining to the feasibility and the efficacy of dietary/nutritional interventions in treating ASD-related conditions, including KD and probiotics intakes, along with behavioral therapies, consisting of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).