Urinary peptide levels and patterns in autistic children from seven countries, and the effect of dietary intervention after 4 years

Urinary samples from children with autistic syndromes, diagnosed according to the DSM III, were collected from seven different countries. The excretion of peptides was analyzed by a new and fast HPLC method, and the increased amount excreted was observed to be statistically the same. A 4-year follow-up of the original cohort of autistic children placed on a diet free of gluten and milk protein showed that those on the diet continued to develop, while those who stopped the diet regressed. The possible and probable etiological relationship of our data to the phenolsulphotransferase data of Waring is outlined.