If your child has autism and ongoing digestive struggles — like bloating, stomach pain, reflux, irregular stools, or very limited food choices — you’re not imagining the connection.
Many parents notice that when the gut is unsettled, behavior, sleep, and emotional regulation often worsen too. Research increasingly supports that, for some autistic children, the gut and brain are closely linked.
One low-risk support tool that has been studied in this context is digestive enzymes taken with meals.
The Study — Explained Simply
In a clinical study published in 2015, researchers looked at whether digestive enzymes could help autistic children who often struggle with digestion.
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The study followed children with autism aged 3–9 years over three months
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It was double-blind and placebo-controlled, meaning neither families nor researchers knew who received enzymes and who received a placebo until the end
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Children were randomly assigned to receive either:
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a digestive enzyme syrup (containing papain and pepsin) taken with meals, or
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a placebo syrup that looked and tasted the same
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Researchers used well-established autism and behavior rating tools to track changes over time.
What Improved?
After three months, the children who received digestive enzymes showed measurable improvements compared to the placebo group, especially in areas many parents care about most:
Behavior & Emotional Regulation
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Improved emotional responsiveness
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Better overall autism impression scores
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A noticeable reduction in total autism severity scores on standardized assessments
Digestive Comfort
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Better stool quality
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Less abdominal pain
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Less vomiting
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Improved food variety
In everyday terms:
👉 Digestion improved — and behavior improved alongside it.
The changes were described as mild but meaningful, not dramatic or overnight — which is exactly what we tend to see with supportive biological tools.
Safety Notes (Important)
Most children tolerated the enzymes well.
A small number experienced:
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mild skin rashes
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itching
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temporary abdominal discomfort
Only a few children stopped the trial because of side effects.
What This Means (Without Hype)
Digestive enzymes are not a cure.
They are not necessary for every autistic child.
But this study suggests they may be a helpful supportive option, especially for children who show signs of:
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gas, bloating, or discomfort after meals
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reflux or frequent vomiting
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constipation or diarrhea
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very limited food variety
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behavioral challenges that clearly worsen when digestion is off
For these children, improving digestion may reduce one source of physical stress on the body — which can sometimes ease behavioral strain as well.
A Parent-Friendly Way to Think About Enzymes
If you and your healthcare professional decide to explore enzymes, keep it simple and structured:
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Start low and slow, especially with sensitive children
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Track changes for 2–4 weeks, including:
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stool quality and frequency
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abdominal pain or reflux
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appetite and food tolerance
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emotional regulation and meltdowns
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sleep quality
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Reassess together:
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Is anything clearly better?
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Neutral?
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Worse?
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If there’s no benefit, you stop.
If there is benefit, you’ve learned something valuable about your child’s biology.
A Quick, Responsible Note
This article is for education only.
Always speak with your pediatrician or qualified health professional — especially if your child has allergies, chronic gastrointestinal disease, is underweight, or takes medication.
Study Reference
Saad K. et al. (2015).
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of digestive enzymes in children with autism spectrum disorders.
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience, 13(2), 188–193.
DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2015.13.2.188