While SCD has had impressive results for autism it s still is too soon to assess GAPS results because GAPS is relatively new. GAPS is having some good results and some problem cases just as SCD has. Time will tell how effective GAPS is.

Some practitioners who put patients on the SCD diet report a success rate of close to 100%. When DAN doctors prescribe SCD only for children who have failed with all other treatments the diet is often undertaken by those with the worst digestive issues and implemented by parents who have difficulty administering treatments in general. Despite this, SCD maintains a high success among autism diets.

Pecanbread Positives

Excellent Support List
The Pecanbread SCD/ASD Yahoo support list includes some regular helpers who have followed SCD for a decade.

Most questions get answered quickly.

Pecanbread list moderators dispensing SCD advice require approval from an SCD Committee to qualify. Unfortunately we are not qualified to give support for GAPS.

Prompt responses are a mainstay of the support list.

The Website

The Pecanbread website is periodically updated. "Enhanced SCD" contains suggestions regarding good health that adhere to Pecanbread Protocol

SCD is used for both those with autism and by neuro-typical people for GI problems.

Patients who do not experience sufficient progress with default SCD usually report improvement after adding Pecanbread protocols. Many without autism turn to Pecanbread. Major blogs and websites for people with Crohns Disease and Colitis strongly endorse Pecanbread.

Pecanbread Protocol was approved by Elaine Gottschall and has received high marks from users.

GAPS

Dr Campbell-McBride made changes to SCD, in her book and additionally after publication. A few differences between Dr. Campbell-McBride and Elaine existed at the time of publication.

Here are changes that separate the two diets:

Probiotics

The probiotic, Bio-Kult, used by GAPS contains bifidus. Scientific research and experiences of people who implement SCD validate Elaine's position that Bifidus is useful for healthy people but can foster bacterial overgrowth in a compromised digestive system. People have gone into massive flares after trying the VSL#3 and also have had major problems with bifidum bacteria (especially when on SCD). Perhaps it is because the SCD clears out the harmful microbes and bifidum takes over, overgrowing into huge numbers. The by-products of bifidum bacteria could be what sends people into flares - especially those who have sensitive guts or those at the beginning of the diet, these people unfortunately have "fertile ground" for bifidum bacteria to overgrow." The probiotic, Bio-Kult also contains maltodextrin.

Elaine was extremely concerned with maltodextrin and said, "It is a byproduct of corn hydrolysis (breaking down of corn starch) and it contains the isomaltose unit about which I write in my book. I am dead set against adding a maltodextrin molecule containing isomaltose-linked- glucose units. Maltodextrin is sugar.

Intro Diets and Yeast

GAPS strives to eliminate both bacteria and yeast in its introductory phase while SCD targets bacteria first because eliminating bacteria also results in the elimination of yeast for many people, (There is an SCD protocol for those who need additional measures to eliminate yeast.) The Candida Elimination Version of SCD was used successfully for several years by SCD patients who did not have autism. Parents go with an SCD trial period for from three to six months. If candida-related symptoms are severe or there is no improvement, then the candida protocol can be tried.

Weston-Price Foundation Support

GAPS is just one diet that was inspired by both SCD and WAPF. (The WAPF diet emphasizes fermented foods, broths, grass fed meat, organic food and juicing) Healing Crow began in 2000, when a group of SCD enthusiasts led by biochemist Seth Barrows first proposed such enhancements to SCD. The list is no longer active but many of its elements are found on the Pecanbread list and website.

Dairy

Dr Campbell-McBride formerly recommended waiting a year before introducing dairy. She changed the waiting period to from four to six weeks or at a point dependent upon the child's yogurt tolerance. The dairy protocol used for autism is currently similar in both diets.

Baking Soda

GAPS does not permit baking soda. Dr. Campbell-McBride believes that ingesting it contributes to low stomach acid in GAPS patients. Pecanbread remains neutral until further research is more conclusive. Researcher, Catherine Tamaro, believes ingesting baking soda, helps children with autism and recommends it to parents who follow SCD and her Vitamin K protocol. Parents may try both options and decide what is best for their child.

Juices - SCD allows selected store bought juices; GAPS does not because they feel pasteurization, additional ingredients and potential for mold create significant challenges for patients. Homemade fruit and vegetable juices are strongly encouraged since they are full of nutrients and enzymes, are pure and help detoxify the body.

Pecanbread allows certain store bought juices but strongly recommends homemade food overall and supports juicing too. ( We instruct parents that juice should be consumed within fifteen minutes following preparation)

SCD has a long tradition for discouraging the use of processed foods. The list for allowed ready made foods is very slim. Furthermore, the web page where this list is posted clearly states:

Homemade food is more delicious and nutritious.

http://pecanbread.com/new/legalfoods1.html

Legumes

Legumes permitted on GAPS are white navy beans, lima beans and lentils. SCD does permit the use of black beans and kidney beans as extremely advanced foods. However, this difference is not significant for autism since the autism protocol discourages the use of black beans and kidney beans.

Conclusion: There are similarities between SCD and GAPS but sufficient differences to make them separate and distinct diets. Parents and adults should study carefully when choosing what seems best to them. If results are not as expected one can always change and always return if desired.