Feingold Diet and Autism Ranking:

Future Research

Summary of Existing Research

We have been unable to identify any studies into the effects of the Feingold diet for autistic people published in English-language, peer-reviewed journals.

We found a number of research reviews which looked at the Feingold diet for people with other conditions, particularly attention deficit hyperactive disorder. In general, these reviews concluded that the Feingold diet is unlikely to provide any significant benefits.  

The Food Standards Authority website reported that there is some research to suggest that certain artificial food colours and the preservative sodium benzoate could be linked to increased hyperactivity in some children. 

Determining if the Feingold diet has any significant benefits for autistic individuals is therefore not currently possible. We must wait until further research of sufficiently high quality has been completed.

Recommendations for Future Research

There is a need for small scale pilot studies which use scientifically robust, experimental methodologies to determine if the Feingold diet provides any benefits for autistic people.

These studies should investigate if there are different groups of  autistic individuals (such as those with gastrointestinal problems or those with intolerance to additives or salicylates) who might benefit most from the diet. 

These studies should also investigate which parts of the diet (exclusion of additives, or salicylates or both) provide the most benefits to which groups of people. 

It may then be possible to determine if further, large-scale trials into the diet are justified.

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Sep 2017

Next Review

01 Feb 2024