Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41619084›Full record

SynthesisMetabolic brain disease2026

Opioid peptides in autism spectrum disorder and gluten-free casein-free diet as a therapeutic approach.

Elif Öztürk, Nazlı Nur Aslan Çi̇n, Ali Cansu, Aslı Akyol

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Metabolic brain disease, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Elif ÖztürkFaculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Karadeniz Technical University, Farabi Street No:88, Trabzon, Turkey. elifyayli@ktu.edu.tr.
Nazlı Nur Aslan Çi̇nFaculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Karadeniz Technical University, Farabi Street No:88, Trabzon, Turkey.ORCID 0000-0002-4458-8817
Ali CansuFaculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Diseases, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.ORCID 0000-0002-1930-6312
Aslı AkyolFaculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.ORCID 0000-0001-6301-6358

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent difficulties in social communication and interaction, together with restricted and repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities. The diagnosis of ASD currently relies on comprehensive assessments of developmental history and behavioral patterns, as there are no validated laboratory tests for a definitive clinical diagnosis. While evidence-based interventions are largely restricted to educational and behavioral programs, many individuals with ASD and their caregivers explore complementary approaches, including dietary interventions. Among these, the gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet is one of the most frequently adopted strategies. A leading hypothesis posits that those increased concentrations of opioid peptides such as gluteomorphin and caseomorphin derived from the incomplete digestion of gluten and casein may contribute to the severity of ASD symptoms. It is further suggested that eliminating these dietary proteins could reduce opioid peptide concentrations in biofluids and improve clinical outcomes. The present systematic review was created by reviewers who searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, covering the period from January 1980 to March 2025. The search strategy combined standardized keywords and Medical Subject Headings terms. The search strategy included a combination of keywords commonly used in the literature to represent ASD, opioid peptides, and GFCF diets. A systematic literature search was carried out on PubMed and Web of Science and a total of 17 articles were included. Although preliminary findings from clinical and laboratory studies are promising, conclusive evidence regarding the efficacy of the GFCF diet remains lacking. This review aims to synthesize current findings on the relationship between opioid peptides and ASD, with a particular focus on the neurological effects of food-derived peptides and their potential role in therapeutic dietary interventions.

Indexed as

Autism Spectrum DisorderCaseinsDiet, Gluten-FreeOpioid PeptidesAnimalsHumansCaseinsOpioid PeptidesAutism spectrum disorderCaseomorphinChild healthGluten-free casein-free dietGluteomorphin

Identifiers

PMID41619084
PMCPMC12860830

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.