Nutricia Partners With Autism Speaks

Main Category: Autism
Article Date: 02 Jun 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Nutricia North America announced its support of Autism Speaks, the nation's leading non-profit organization dedicated to autism awareness.

"Autism Speaks is grateful for the support of Nutricia," said Scott Leibowitz, national director of corporate relations for Autism Speaks. "The support of organizations like Nutricia is critical to raising funds for important research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism."

Under the agreement, Nutricia will sponsor 26 Walk Now for Autism events nationwide. The grassroots program is a signature fundraising event for Autism Speaks.

"Discovering the potential benefit our products can provide to families affected by autism brought our attention to Autism Speaks' outstanding work," said Garry Reason, chief executive officer of Nutricia North America. "We are proud to support the organization's invaluable education, outreach and fundraising efforts."

Nutricia manufactures medical foods that are clinically proven to relieve the symptoms of food allergies and gastrointestinal problems in children. Some families are now using these hypoallergenic, nutritionally complete products as part of special diets (like the gluten-free, casein-free diet) for their children with autism.

"Research suggests that 46 to 85 percent of children with autism suffer from one or more gastrointestinal symptoms," said Judy Converse, MPH, RD, LD. "I've found that a gluten-free, casein-free diet can benefit those children. And Nutricia's E028 Splash and Neocate Jr. effectively fill in the nutritional gaps that can result from these restricted diets."

"Just like any autism therapy, the GFCF or other restricted diets do not work for every child," says Steven Yannicelli, RD, Ph.D., director of science and education for Nutricia North America. "But many families, such as the Dawsons, have seen significant improvement in their children with autism after making these dietary changes."

"Implementing a gluten-free, casein-free diet for my son Mac has made a huge difference in our family," says Amy Dawson, mother of a three-year-old child with autism. "Now that his gastrointestinal issues are resolved, he's been able to focus better on his behavioral therapy. And since I give him E028 Splash, I know he's getting the nutrients he needs."

E028 Splash and Neocate Jr. are both nutritionally complete, hypoallergenic, amino acid-based formulas. They are both gluten-free and casein-free. E028 Splash is a ready-to-feed liquid available in grape, tropical or orange-pineapple. Neocate Jr. is a powder available in chocolate and tropical flavors as well as in an unflavored formulation. It can be prepared as a drink or added to table foods.

Nutricia scientists are currently exploring research with leading medical and science experts to further understand the impact of nutrition on children with autism.

About Nutricia North America

Nutricia North America, based in Rockville, Md., is part of the Danone Medical Nutrition Division. A leader in clinical nutrition, Nutricia North America provides medical foods and infant formulas for the treatment of allergic, gastrointestinal, metabolic, neurological and genetic disorders. The range of quality products includes Neocate, the first hypoallergenic amino acid-based formula for infants and children who suffer from dairy/soy protein allergy and gastrointestinal conditions such as eosinophilic esophagitis. For more information, please visit http://www.neocate.com.

About Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, and to advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Senior Advisor at Lee Equity Partners and served as vice chairman, General Electric, and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal for more than twenty years. Wright also serves on the board of directors of the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, RAND Corporation and Mission Product, LLC. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit http://www.autismspeaks.org.

Autism Speaks