Autism Information and alternative treatment
, herbs, supplements, and vitamins
Natural Treatment Options for
autistic disorder
by Ray Sahelian, M.D., and a word about
the vaccine controversy
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discussion
several new studies on various supplements and natural medicine topics and their
practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
We will mention natural research updates on autism when available.
Autistic disorder, or autism, is a developmental disorder resulting in social, language, or sensorimotor deficits. Autism occurs in approximately
six out of every 1,000 children. Early detection and intervention of autism significantly improve outcome, with about one third of persons with autism achieving some degree of independent living. Indications for developmental evaluation of autism include no babbling, pointing, or use of other gestures by 12 months of age, no single words by 16 months of age, no two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months of age, and loss of previously learned language or social skills at any age. Autism is frequently associated with fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis, and may be caused by lead poisoning and metabolic disorders. Children with autism often suffer form mental retardation, seizure disorder, and psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. Autism symptoms have a tendency to lessen with age.
Diet and Autism
Research indicates that a gluten and casein-free diet
may be helpful in some children with autism. Therefore, it would be a good idea to try a gluten
free diet for a period of a few weeks in children with autism to see if there is
any response. Since fish oils have benefited some autistic children, it may
be a good idea to include more cold water fish in the diet.
Natural supplement for the treatment of autism - Vitamins
and nutrients
There is a scattering of research that indicates nutrients may
be of some benefit in treating autism, but many more clinical trials are needed
before we have a better understanding the role nutritional
supplements in the treatment of autism. However, here are some possible
options that I have come across that may or may not be helpful.
Children
with autism given carnosine showed statistically significant improvements on several tests
including an improvement in vocabulary and recognizing a picture. The
Carnosine
dose
should be probably be low for kids, much less than the 500 mg adult dose.
Q. My husband and I have a son who is a high-functioning autistic. He also developed type 1 diabetes as an adult. In a report my husband and I read on the Internet, you mentioned a nutrient, L-Carnosine to help type 1 diabetics and said it also helped brain function in autistics. We decided to try it and told our son we had something we thought might help his diabetes. Within a couple of weeks, he became much more talkative (he's a very quiet person and usually keeps his opinions to himself) and began voicing his political opinions. It was obvious he had put quite a bit of thought in them. Friends began noticing how much more he was talking with them and not immediately retreating to his room when they came to visit. And to prove it wasn't all in our heads, his endocrinologist has lowered his insulin twice since he began taking the L-Carnosine. So, thanks for pointing us in that direction.
Children with autism may be
deficient in fish oils,
hence a role of diet in autism. Fish oils or
cod liver oil
DHA
supplements are available for children.
A multivitamin supplement
may be considered.
Melatonin could be helpful for occasional use in case there
is a sleep disorder.
The serotonin system could be involved in autism, since there is a different
metabolic response to 5HTP
administration in children with autism compared to controls (see study below).
Q. What would be the appropriate dosage for the various supplements that are
suggested for autism? The child is just 2 years old.
A. Research in the area of supplement use for children at various
ages with autism is quite recent and little is known about the benefits, risks,
or effectiveness of these natural supplements. Please consult with your
pediatrician. My best guess would be about a tenth of 500 mg capsule although I
have no studies to support this dosage recommendation.
Autism and fish oil
Childhood autism may be linked to a deficiency of fatty
acids found in oily fish. A pilot study at the University of Stirling found that
children with autism had cells that broke down fatty acids more rapidly than
normal cells. Autism rates in Scotland have risen dramatically in the past ten
years, a trend mirrored across the developed world. In Scotland, an estimated
50,000 people, nearly 7,000 of them children, suffer from autism. Brain cell
membranes are composed primarily of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, substances
found in oily fish such as mackerel and salmon. A study of about 20 autistic
children last year revealed that cell membranes in their blood metabolized, or
processed, fatty acids at a faster rate than other children. The discovery led
to speculation that a fatty acid deficiency may be partially responsible for the
onset of autism. "We have already seen a connection between omega levels and
schizophrenia and dyslexia," said Dr Gordon Bell of the university. If cell
function in the brain is changed, the behavior of the brain will change as
well. Dr Bell compared cell membranes to a "brick wall" of fatty acids. Bricks
fall out, but as long as they are replaced, then the wall holds strong. Problems
occur when bricks fall out faster than they can be replaced. If the scientists
confirm this is what causes autism, they may conclude that the answer is to
replenish "bricks" of fatty acids at a greater rate; in short, eat more fish.
Behavioral effects of omega-3 Fatty Acid supplementation in young adults with
severe autism: an open label study.
Arch Med Res. 2008 Oct. Department of Health Applied Sciences, Section of
Psychiatry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Pilot findings seem to suggest a potential beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty
acid (FA) supplementation on behavioral alterations in children with autism.
However, data on the potential benefits of omega-3 supplements in young adults
with severe autism are lacking. In the present study, we sought to explore this
issue in an open label study. Nineteen young adults with severe autism, aged
18-40 years, received two fish oil capsules per day [0.93g of eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plus 5mg of vitamin E to avoid lipid
peroxidation] for 6 weeks. Subjects were assessed with an ad hoc caregiver
questionnaire, the Rossago Behavioral Checklist, for the assessment of
behavioral anomalies. No significant improvements were observed with regard to
the severity and frequency of problematic behaviors either during the active
treatment period or during the post-treatment 6-week observation period. Our
negative findings do not point toward a major effect of omega-3 FA
supplementation on behavioral abnormalities in adults with severe autism.
Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in
children with autism: a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study.
Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Feb. Amminger GP, Berger GE, Schäfer MR, Klier C,
Friedrich MH, Feucht M. Department of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry,
Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 6-week pilot trial
investigating the effects of 1.5 g/d of omega-3 fatty acids (.84 g/d
eicosapentaenoic acid, .7 g/d docosahexaenoic acid) supplementation in 13
children (aged 5 to 17 years) with autism disorders accompanied by severe
tantrums, aggression, or self-injurious behavior. We observed an advantage of
omega-3 fatty acids compared with placebo for hyperactivity and stereotypy, each
with a large effect size. Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated a trend toward
superiority of omega-3 fatty acids over placebo for hyperactivity. No clinically
relevant adverse effects were elicited in either group.
Autism, vitamin B6 and multivitamins
Pilot study of a moderate dose multivitamin / mineral supplement for children
with autistic spectrum disorder.
J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Dec;10(6):1033-9. Adams JB, Holloway C.
Arizona State University, PO Box 876006, Tempe, AZ 85287-6006, USA.
Determine the effect of a moderate dose multivitamin/mineral supplement on
children with autistic spectrum disorder. Twenty (20) children with autistic
spectrum disorder, ages 3-8 years. A Global Impressions parental
questionnaire found that the supplement group reported statistically significant
improvements in sleep and gastrointestinal problems compared to the placebo
group. An evaluation of vitamin B(6) levels prior to the study found that the
autistic children had substantially elevated levels of B6 compared to a control
group of typical children. Vitamin C levels were measured at the end of the
study, and the placebo group had levels that were significantly below average
for typical children, whereas the supplement group had near-average levels.
The finding of high vitamin B(6) levels is consistent with recent
reports of low levels of pyridoxal-5-phosphate and low activity of pyridoxal
kinase (i.e., pyridoxal is only poorly converted to pyridoxal-5-phosphate, the
enzymatically active form). This may explain the functional need for high-dose
vitamin B(6) supplementation in many children and adults with autism.
Melatonin for sleep
Dr. Beth L. Goodlin-Jones, of the Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental
Disorders (M.I.N.D.) Institute at the University of California Davis Health
System in Sacramento, and her team report, "Melatonin can be considered a safe
and effective pharmacologic treatment in addition to behavior therapies and
sleep hygiene practices for the management of sleep problems in children with
autistic spectrum disorder and fragile X syndrome." In a 4-week study, 18
children, ranging in age from 2 to 15 years, with autistic spectrum disorder
and/or fragile X syndrome were given either 3 mg melatonin or placebo each night
for 2 weeks. The children then "crossed over" to the other treatment group for 2
weeks. Reports from 12 children who completed the study showed that use of
this natural hormone led to improvements in total night sleep durations,
sleep latency times and sleep-onset times. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine,
April 15, 2009.
Comments: For long term use, I suggest no more than 1 mg of
melatonin a few
nights a week. I am concerned that if parents give 3 mg nightly for many
weeks or months tolerance could develop or side effects could occur. It is
possible that even a third of a mg or half a mg could also be effective.
Vaccine controversy
Q. Is it possible that children given too many vaccines could develop signs of
autism?
A. There is a debate in the medical community regarding the role of
vaccines in causing or precipitating autism. I am not sure at this time but I am
not ruling out the possibility that there could be a link. Over the past two
decades so many new vaccines have been added to a child's vaccination list that
the medical community has little idea how all of these interact with each other
and how they influence the immune system and neural tissue.
Autism
symptom
The main feature of autism is impaired social interaction. Children with
autism may fail to respond to their names and often avoid looking at other
people. They often have difficulty interpreting tone of voice or facial
expressions and do not respond to others' emotions or watch other people's faces
for cues about appropriate behavior. Another autism symptom is being unaware of
others' feelings toward them and of the negative impact of their behavior on
other people.
Sleep problems are reported in the vast majority of children with
autism and fragile X syndrome. Fragile X syndrome is an inherited form of mental
impairment resulting from a "fragile," or broken site, on the X chromosome. The
syndrome affects 2 to 4 percent of those with autism spectrum disorder, and
symptoms of autism are common in children with fragile X.
Autism Sign
Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements such as rocking
and hair twirling, or in self-injurious behavior such as biting or head-banging.
They also tend to start speaking later than other children and may refer to
themselves by name instead of "I" or "me." Some speak in a sing-song voice about
a narrow range of favorite topics, with little regard for the interests of the
person to whom they are speaking.
Cause of autism
Current research links autism to biological or neurological differences
in the brain. MRI ( Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and PET (Positron Emission
Tomography) scans show abnormalities in the structure of the brain, with
significant differences within the cerebellum, including the size and number of
Purkinje cells. In some families there appears to be a pattern of autism or
related disabilities, which suggests there may be a genetic basis to the
disorder, although at this time no one gene has been directly linked to autism.
Men who become fathers in their 40s or older are much more likely to have
autistic children than younger dads, bolstering evidence that genetics
contributes to autism.
Disturbances in the serotonin system is another
cause of autism, see study below.
Having a parent or a mother with psychiatric problems such as
schizophrenia increases a child's risk of having autism.
Low birth weight and preterm delivery
are a cause of autism. These children are more
likely to exhibit autistic symptoms.
Advanced parental age does indeed appear to boost autism risk in
children, and the risk is seen with both mothers and fathers. American Journal
of Epidemiology, December 1, 2008.
What does not cause
autism
There does not appear to be a link between the season
or month a child is born and the subsequent risk for autism. There does not seem
to be a link between mercury levels (as determined by analyzing hair samples for
mercury) and the risk for autism.
Autism treatment
There are three large categories of autism treatment: Behavioral
modification and communication approaches, dietary and nutritional approaches,
complementary approaches.
Despite anecdotal evidence suggesting that secretin is
a useful treatment for autism, the results of a new review do not support a
therapeutic role for this gastrointestinal hormone.
Autism and growth
hormone
Boys with autism have higher levels of growth hormones than other boys, which
may explain why children with the condition often have larger heads. Boys with
autism and autism spectrum disorders are also heavier than boys without these
conditions
Autism Research Update
Serotonergic disturbances in autistic disorder: L-5-hydroxytryptophan
administration to autistic youngsters increases the blood concentrations of
serotonin in patients but not in controls.
Life Sci. 2005 Mar 25;76(19):2171-83.
Some studies have suggested that disorders in the peripheral and central
metabolism of serotonin (5-HT) may play a role in the pathophysiology of
autistic disorder. This study examines the whole blood concentrations of 5-HT
and 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in baseline conditions and during a
challenge with L-5-OH-tryptophane (5-HTP; 4 mg/kg in non enteric-coated
tablets), the precursor of 5-HT, in a study group of 18 male, post-pubertal,
Caucasian children with authism (age 13-19 y.; I.Q.>55) and 20 matched healthy
volunteers. In baseline conditions, no significant differences in 5-HT or 5-HIAA
levels could be found between autistic youngsters and normal controls. 5-HTP
administration significantly increased the levels of 5-HT in sutism youngsters
but not in normal controls. Following 5-HTP challenge the 5-HT levels were
significantly higher in autistic patients than in healthy volunteers. After
challenge with 5-HTP, no significant differences were found in the
concentrations of 5-HIAA or the test substance between autistic youngsters and
normal controls. Differences in the peripheral metabolism of 5-HT which may not
be observed in baseline conditions but which became clear after loading with
5-HTP, suggest that an increased synthesis of 5-HT from its precursor 5-HTP
might be a one factor responsible for differences in the serotonergic system
between autistic post-pubertal youngsters and normal controls.
A form of therapy that focuses on parents' interactions with their
children could help treat autism at a far lower cost than other strategies for
the disorder. A therapy called responsive teaching, given over one year, led to
gains in language and behavioral development among young children with autism.
Children with autism have, to varying degrees, difficulty in using and
interpreting verbal language and body language, and in interacting with other
people, including their parents. Responsive teaching works on strengthening this
interaction, encouraging parents to "follow their child's lead" and respond to
their actions. The approach is "child-centered," says Dr. Gerald Mahoney, a
co-author on the new study, who co-directs the Center on Intervention for
Children and Families at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. This
stands in contrast to the widely held belief that education for autistic
children must be highly structured and "direct" them in learning particular
skills. Another way the tactic differs from other forms of autism therapy is in
cost. Contact with therapists is limited to about once a week, and the yearly
price tag for the program is about $5000 -- a fraction of the cost of many other
therapies. For the current study, reported in the Journal of Developmental and
Behavioral Pediatrics, Mahoney and colleague Frida Perales followed 50 children
whose parents began responsive teaching when the children were around the age of
2. Some of the children had a pervasive developmental disorder, or PDD -- most
commonly autism -- and some had other forms of developmental disabilities. The
idea behind responsive teaching is that by enhancing parents' interactions with
their children, the children will "acquire and use pivotal developmental
behaviors," which in turn will improve children's language skills and social and
emotional development. For instance, if stronger parent-child interactions
improve the pivotal behavior of cooperation, the result could be fewer
behavioral problems. Similarly, improving the pivotal behavior of "joint
attention" between a parent and child could aid in the child's learning of
language. After a year, the researchers found, the children showed large
gains in their cognitive development, especially when it came to communication
skills. Their rate of development in terms of expressive language increased by
an average of 167 percent, while their ability to understand language improved
by nearly as much, according to the report. Between 70 and 80 percent of the
children showed such improvements. SOURCE: Journal of Developmental and
Behavioral Pediatrics, April 2005.
Mercury released primarily from coal-fired power plants may be
contributing to an increase in the number of cases of autism. A study published
in the journal "Health and Place" found that autism, a developmental disorder
marked by communication and social interaction problems, increased in Texas
counties as mercury emissions rose. For every thousand pounds of environmentally
released mercury, there was a 17 percent increase in autism rates. About 48 tons
of mercury are released into the air annually in the United States from hundreds
of coal-burning plants.
Expectant mothers suffering from asthma, allergies or a type of skin
disease have a higher risk of giving birth to an autistic child. Asthma,
allergies and psoriasis symptoms during pregnancy — especially if diagnosed in
the second trimester — doubled the risk of autism in children compared to
children who were not afflicted.
A new brain-imaging study suggests that people with autism use different
parts of the brain when remembering letters -- regions normally associated with
processing shapes rather than language. The study also found that compared with
other adults, individuals with autism showed less synchronization among certain
brain regions while performing the letter-recall task. The findings support
their theory that autism involves an underdevelopment of the complex circuitry
that allows different brain areas to work together. Autism is a developmental
brain disorder that impairs, to varying degrees, a person's use of language and
ability to communicate, interact socially and form relationships. In addition,
some people with autism excel at "detailed" tasks but have trouble performing
more complex ones. They might do well when it comes to spelling words, for
example, yet be unable to grasp the overall meaning of something they read.
Children with autism have inflammation in their brains, although it is
not yet clear whether the inflammation actually causes the condition. Tests on
the brain tissue of 11 patients with autism who had died and spinal fluid from
six living children with autism showed the activation of immune system
responses. Autism is a brain disorder usually seen as children become toddlers.
Affecting an estimated two to five out of every 1,000 children, autism has a
spectrum of symptoms that include difficulty with social interaction and
repetitive behaviors. In a study published in the online edition of the Annals
of Neurology, researchers said they found abnormal activity by immune system
signaling chemicals called chemokines in the autistic patients. This ongoing
inflammatory process was present in different areas of the brain and produced by
cells known as microglia and astroglia.
Mothers of children with autism are more likely to have asthma or
allergic disorders. This finding may point to immune function abnormalities to
play a role in this disorder.
Identifying environmental contributions to autism:
Provocative clues and false leads.
Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2005 Jan 21;10(4):292-302
The potential role of environmental factors in autism spectrum disorders
(Autism) is an area of emerging interest within the public and scientific
communities. The high degree of heritability of Autism suggests that
environmental influences are likely to operate through their interaction with
genetic susceptibility during vulnerable periods of development. Evaluation of
the plausibility of specific neurotoxicants as etiological agents in Autism
should be guided by toxicological principles, including dose-effect dependency
and pharmacokinetic parameters. Clinical and epidemiological investigations
require the use of sufficiently powered study designs with appropriate control
groups and unbiased case ascertainment and exposure assessment. Although much of
the existing data that have been used to implicate environmental agents in
Autism are limited by methodological shortcomings, a number of efforts are
underway that will allow more rigorous evaluation of the role of environmental
exposures in the etiology and/or phenotypic expression of the disorder.
Surveillance systems are now in place that will provide reliable prevalence
estimates going forward in time. Anticipated discoveries in genetics, brain
pathology, and the molecular/cellular basis of functional impairment in Autism
are likely to provide new opportunities to explore environmental aspects of this
disorder.
Mercury Preservatives and Autism
A study of specially bred mice suggests that a mercury
preservative in vaccines could potentially cause some of the brain changes in
autism. The publication of the study gives fuel to an alliance of environmentalists,
parents of children with autism, anti-vaccine advocates and politicians who say
they will continue to fight to prove that vaccines can cause autism in
susceptible children. But experts who issued a report last month saying there was no link between
vaccines and autism said they had already seen the study and rejected it. Dr. Mady Hornig of Columbia University in New York said her study shows the
possibility that a genetic predisposition could leave certain children
vulnerable to a range of toxins in vaccines, including a mercury-based
preservative called thimerosal. Writing in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, Hornig said specially bred mice
that have deficient immune systems did show changes in behavior after getting
the equivalent of the childhood vaccinations given to U.S. babies and toddlers. "I think that these findings suggest that it is very plausible that there
could be a genetic factor that creates risk for some individuals with autism,"
Hornig said. But Dr. Marie McCormick of Harvard University's School of Public Health, said Hornig's
research stretched credibility. For instance, it is not clear that children with
autism have impaired immune systems. And the findings from specially bred mice
can not be extended to humans. "Even though she says these behaviors are like
autism, it is not clear that these behaviors are analogous to autism," McCormick
added.
Carnosine Helpful in Autism
From the day she was born, Betty seemed
different from other infants. At an age when most infants enjoy interacting with
people and exploring their environment, Betty sat motionless in her crib and
didn't respond to rattles or other toys. It wasn’t too long before Betty was
diagnosed with autism. Unfortunately, modern medicine has little to offer as a
cure for this condition. But supplements may be helpful. Researchers at the
Autism and Epilepsy Specialty Services in Lake Bluff, Illinois, investigated 31
children with autism in an 8-week, double-blinded study to determine if carnosine would result in changes. Carnosine is a natural substance composed of
2 amino acids. It is found in relatively high concentrations in several body
tissues, muscles, and nerve tissue, including the brain. The exact role of
carnosine is not well understood, but studies indicate that this nutrient has
antioxidant potential and may also act as a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger
in the nervous system). The children with autism received 800 mg of carnosine a day and were
compared with a group of children on placebo. After 8 weeks, children given
carnosine showed statistically significant improvements on several tests
including an improvement in vocabulary and recognizing a picture.
Dr. Sahelian says: Carnosine, also known as L-carnosine,
is sold in health food stores most commonly in capsules of 500 mg. It would be
worthwhile for children with autism to try 100 to 200 mg of this nutrient before breakfast and lunch for
a few weeks under a pediatrician’s supervision.
Gluten- and casein-free diets for autistic
spectrum disorder.
Millward C, Cochrane
Database Syst Rev. 2004;(2):CD003498.
It has been suggested that peptides from gluten and casein may
have a role in the origins of autism and that the physiology and psychology of
autism might be explained by excessive opioid activity linked to these peptides.
Research has reported abnormal levels of peptides in the urine and cerebrospinal
fluid of persons with autism. If this is the case, diets free of gluten and /or
casein should reduce the symptoms associated with autism. OBJECTIVES: To
determine the efficacy of gluten- and/or casein- free diets as an intervention
to improve behavior, cognitive and social functioning in individuals with
autism. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials involving
programmes which eliminated gluten, casein or both gluten and casein from the
diets of individuals diagnosed with autism. As only one trial fitted the inclusion
criteria, no meta-analysis is currently possible and data are presented in
narrative form. MAIN RESULTS: The one trial included reported results on four
outcomes. Unsurprisingly in such a small-scale study, the results for three of
these outcomes (cognitive skills, linguistic ability and motor ability) had wide
confidence intervals that spanned the line of nil effect. However, the fourth
outcome, reduction in autism traits, reported a significant beneficial
treatment effect for the combined gluten- and casein- free diet. REVIEWERS'
CONCLUSIONS: This is an important area of investigation and large scale, good
quality randomised controlled trials are needed.
Autism.
Tuchman R. Miami Children's Hospital, 2900 South Commerce Parkway, Weston, FL
Neurol Clin. 2003 Nov;21(4):915-32
Autism is a neurologic disorder with impairments in language, social
communication, and behavior, which may improve over time, but which persist
throughout the lifetime. The evaluation of autism requires a separation of
clinical and research objectives and is done best in close cooperation with
professionals in the fields of communication, education, and psychology. There
are no biologic markers of autism. Regression in language and social
communication is present in approximately 30% of children with autism and is
most likely to occur between 18 and 24 months of age. Early deficits in social
communication can be identified by the assessment of joint attention, affective
reciprocity, and metacognition. Current evidence suggests that deficits in
social cognition and communication in autism may be related to dysfunction in
the amygdala, hippocampus, and related limbic and cortical structures. Other
neuroanatomic structures, such as the cerebellum, also may form part of a
distributed neuronal network responsible for social cognition and communication.
Genetics play a major role in autism, but what is inherited and how broad the
inheritable phenotype is remain unclear. At a neurochemical level, the principal
neurotransmitter implicated in autism is serotonin. Seizures and epileptiform
discharges are common in autism and are linked to cognitive dysfunction. The
role of medication is to target specific symptoms and open windows of
opportunity that allow implementation of a multimodal individualized educational
plan.
Plasma fatty acid levels in children with
autism.
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2001 Jul;65(1):1-7.
Phospholipid fatty acids are major structural components of neuronal cell
membranes, which modulate membrane fluidity and hence function. Evidence from
clinical and biochemical sources have indicated changes in the metabolism of
fatty acids in several psychiatric disorders. We examined the phospholipid fatty
acids in the plasma of a population of autism subjects compared to mentally
retarded controls. Our results showed a marked reduction in the levels of 22:
6n-3 (23%) in the autism subjects, resulting in significantly lower levels of
total (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (20%), without significant
reduction in the (n-6) PUFA series, and consequently a significant increase in
the (n-6)/(n-3) ratio (25%). These results open up
interesting perspectives for the investigation of new biological indices in
autism. Moreover, this might have new therapeutic implications in terms of child
nutrition. autism research
Secretin is an ineffective treatment for
pervasive developmental disabilities: a review of 15 double-blind randomized
controlled trials.
Research in Developmental Disabilities 26:87-97, 2005
A review of secretin for autism has concluded: "Almost none of the studies
reported any significant effects and none concluded that secretin was
effective."
Some people consider autism to be part of the obsessive compulsive disorder spectrum
Autism emails
I was reading about autism on your site "Great site by the way!" and came
across this statement " Serotonin is the principal neurotransmitter in autism."
My questions is this, was the article stating that too little serotonin may be
implicated in autism, or too much?
A. I don't know enough about autism and the biochemical abnormalities to know
whether serotonin is found too much, too little, or serotonin levels in autism
are affected only in certain areas of the brain.
Q. I just wanted to let you know that kava kava has saved our
family. We have a 17 year old son with autism. With puberty and the teenage
years presenting challenges of size, rages and inability to control some
emotional behaviors we were desperate. When we see our son beginning to become
agitated we give him kava kava and he completely calms down and is able to focus
and maintain at school, home and in the community. Not wanting to medicate our
son, we are thankful for the discovery of the effects of
kava kava on the behaviors of
autism.
A. Kava should not be used more than 3 days a week due to potential
liver harm.
Q. Does chelation work for autism?
A. We have not come across any good research that indicates chelation
works for autism.
Q. We have an 8-year old son that has autism and we've been
working with him for the last 4-years with therapy. We didn't see as big of a
change in him until the last 3 months when we put him on a GFCF diet ( flucose
free casein free ) and had a local allergy doctor, Dr. Baptist recommend a bunch
of supplements and B-12 injections. He still has some behavior issues but his
vocabulary has increased. Any opinions about chelation therapy?
A. We are glad your child has improved. I am not familiar with the
use of chelation therapy for autism.
Q. Do you know how to deal with a 8 year old
child who has autism and is obsessed with doors. Either opening or closing
or staring at them. What sort of therapy should be used?
A. Sorry but we have not looked into the role of supplements in the
treatment of children with this kind of behavior.
Q. Autism is said to be the result of toxins or toxic metals in the
child's body, Is there any natural antioxidant that you can recommend a 12
year old with autism?
A. I have not seen any evidence that autism is a result of toxins
or toxic metals.
This web page was last updated in 2008.