Researchers tested whether a personalized eating plan could help seven adults with severe autism feel better and reduce their symptoms. The diet focused on reducing body inflammation and improving nutrition based on each person’s blood tests. After one year, the participants showed improvements in their behavior, fewer difficult moments, and their blood work looked healthier too. Their bodies had less inflammation, better blood sugar control, and healthier fat levels. While this is a small study, it suggests that the right foods might help support people with autism alongside other treatments.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Can a special diet designed based on blood tests help adults with severe autism improve their behavior and feel better?
  • Who participated: Seven adults with severe autism living in a residential care facility in Italy. All had serious autism symptoms and other health challenges.
  • Key finding: After 12 months on a personalized diet, participants showed meaningful improvements in autism symptoms, fewer behavioral problems, and their blood work showed less inflammation and better health markers.
  • What it means for you: If you or someone you care for has autism, working with a doctor to create a personalized eating plan based on blood tests might help reduce symptoms and improve overall health. However, this was a small study, so more research is needed before making major changes.

The Research Details

This was a pilot study, which means it was a small test to see if an idea might work before doing a bigger study. Seven adults with severe autism participated in a 12-month program where researchers gave them a personalized diet plan. The diet was designed specifically for each person based on their blood test results, focusing on reducing inflammation in their body and improving their nutrition.

Researchers measured how the participants were doing at the start, after 6 months, and after 12 months. They used several tests to check autism symptoms, behavior changes, and sensory processing (how the body responds to sounds, textures, and other sensations). They also took blood samples to measure inflammation markers, vitamin D levels, blood sugar control, and the types of fats in their blood.

The diet aimed to reduce foods that might cause inflammation and increase foods with healthy fats like omega-3s, which are found in fish and some plant foods. Researchers also made sure participants got enough vitamin D and other important nutrients.

This research approach is important because it looks at autism from a different angle. Instead of just treating behavior, it addresses what might be happening inside the body—like inflammation and nutritional imbalances—that could be making symptoms worse. By measuring both body chemistry and behavior, researchers could see if improving nutrition actually led to better outcomes.

This is a small pilot study with only seven participants, so the results are preliminary. The small size means we can’t be completely sure the results would work for everyone with autism. However, the researchers carefully measured many different markers and followed participants for a full year, which shows they were thorough. The study was published in a respected journal, which is a good sign. The main limitation is that without a comparison group (people who didn’t get the diet), we can’t be 100% certain the diet caused the improvements rather than other factors.

What the Results Show

After 12 months on the personalized diet, participants showed clear improvements in their core autism symptoms. Tests measuring autism severity showed meaningful reductions, and behavioral problems—like outbursts or difficult moments—happened less often and were less severe when they did occur.

The blood work told an important story too. Inflammation markers that were high at the beginning dropped significantly. Vitamin D levels, which were often low, improved. Blood sugar control got better, suggesting the diet helped their bodies process sugar more efficiently. The types of fats in their blood shifted in a healthier direction, with more anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats and a better balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fats.

Sensory processing—how the body responds to sounds, textures, and other sensations—either stayed stable or improved slightly. This matters because many people with autism struggle with sensory sensitivity. The researchers found connections between the improvements in blood work and the improvements in behavior, suggesting that reducing inflammation in the body may have helped reduce autism symptoms.

Beyond the main findings, researchers noticed that the diet appeared to help with intestinal health. Markers of gut inflammation decreased, which is important because many people with autism have digestive issues. The improvements in insulin sensitivity (how well the body handles blood sugar) suggest the diet may help prevent or manage metabolic problems that often accompany autism. The overall pattern showed that multiple body systems improved together, not just one or two markers.

Previous research has suggested that inflammation and nutritional imbalances might contribute to autism symptoms, but few studies have tested whether fixing these problems through diet actually helps. This study builds on that earlier work by showing that a targeted approach based on individual blood tests might be more effective than a one-size-fits-all diet. The findings align with growing evidence that gut health and nutrition play important roles in brain health and behavior.

The biggest limitation is the small number of participants—only seven people. This makes it hard to know if the results would work for other people with autism. There was no control group (people who didn’t get the diet) to compare against, so we can’t be completely certain the diet caused the improvements rather than other factors like increased attention or natural changes over time. The study was done in one facility in Italy, so results might be different in other places or cultures. We don’t know how long the benefits last after the diet ends. Finally, the study didn’t measure how hard it was for people to follow the diet or whether it was practical for everyday life.

The Bottom Line

If you have severe autism or care for someone who does, talk to a doctor about whether a personalized nutrition plan based on blood tests might help. This approach appears promising (moderate confidence level based on this pilot study), but it should be done with professional guidance. The diet should focus on reducing inflammation and ensuring good nutrition. Work with healthcare providers who understand both autism and nutrition. This should be considered a complement to, not a replacement for, other autism support and treatments.

This research is most relevant for adults with severe autism and their caregivers, families, and healthcare providers. It may also interest people with autism who struggle with behavior challenges, sensory issues, or digestive problems. Healthcare providers who work with autistic adults should be aware of this approach. However, this study was small, so people with mild or moderate autism should talk to their doctor before making major dietary changes based on this research alone.

Based on this study, meaningful improvements took about 6-12 months to appear. Some changes in blood work might happen sooner, but behavioral improvements seemed to take longer. You shouldn’t expect overnight changes. It’s important to be patient and work with healthcare providers to track progress over months, not weeks.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily food intake and mood/behavior patterns. Users could log meals and rate behavior on a simple scale (1-10) each day to see if certain foods correlate with better or worse days. This helps identify personal patterns.
  • Work with the app to plan meals based on anti-inflammatory foods (like fish, vegetables, and healthy oils) and track whether sensory sensitivities or behavioral challenges improve. Users could set reminders for meals and water intake, and log any digestive or mood changes.
  • Use the app to record weekly summaries of behavior, energy levels, and any physical symptoms. Every month, review the patterns to see if there are improvements. Share this data with healthcare providers during check-ups to guide adjustments to the nutrition plan.

This research is a small pilot study and should not replace professional medical advice. Before making significant dietary changes, especially for someone with autism, consult with a doctor, registered dietitian, or healthcare provider who understands autism. This study shows promise but needs larger follow-up studies to confirm results. Individual responses to dietary changes vary greatly. Some people may benefit while others may not. Never stop or change other autism treatments or medications without consulting your healthcare provider. This information is for educational purposes and is not medical advice.