Article: Can Diet and Vitamins be Used to Treat Autism?

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This is a very good explaination of diet and vitamin therapies. There are also some information on studies that have been done.

Vitamins and diet

Introduction

Since the 1960s, when interest in the effects of diet and vitamins on the treatment of autism began, there has been much research carried out in this area, although not necessarily into all diets and vitamins which could be of use. As with all approaches to treating autism it is important to remember that some will work with varying degrees of success in one person, while not have any effect at all for another. It is also important to stress that while experimenting with vitamins and supplements is unlikely to result in any serious side-effects, consultation with your doctor on any change of diet is advisable. There are several organisations that can help with a decision to use vitamins or diets in treating autism and Aspergers syndrome and it would be useful to consult these.

Vitamin B6/magnesium Who could benefit? Since the 1960s when Bernard Rimland initiated research into the use of vitamin B6 alongside magnesium a high proportion of people on the autistic spectrum have benefited from taking more vitamin B6. It is important however, to recognise that only those on the autistic spectrum with a need for Vitamin B6 in particular will benefit from this treatment.

How successful has this diet proved? Have any studies been carried out?

There have been around 20 published studies since 1965 and vitamin B6 has proved beneficial to around 50% of those involved. It is not fully understood why vitamin B6 is useful in this way. If the treatment is going to be useful then it should have an effect within a few days but if there is no change in three to four weeks it should be stopped.

Is this treatment safe? Thousands of autistic children have been administered vitamin B6 since the 1960s without any signs of significant side-effects. However, in 1983, Schaumburg reported a small number of patients as suffering from numbness and tingling in the hands and feet due to peripheral neuropathy. It should be noted that these children were not taking magnesium which should always be used when taking such high doses of vitamin B6 so as to prevent side-effects due to vitaminotherapy such as irritability, sound sensitivity, and enuresis. Also, once the vitamin treatment was discontinued or markedly reduced, all adverse symptoms disappeared completely.

Where can I get them? Health food shops and pharmacies supply vitamin B6 and magnesium supplements.

Useful addresses/Contacts

Autism Research Institute

4182 Avenue

San Diego

California 92116

USA

Website: www.autism.com/ari/

Vitamin C Who could benefit? Vitamin C helps us all by enabling our brains to function properly although how it does this is still unknown. The symptoms of vitamin C deficiency include depression and confusion, both of which are symptoms common in autistic people. Therefore, the idea is that autistic people would in some cases benefit from vitamin C supplements.

How successful has this diet proved? Have any studies been carried out?

Most people know that vitamin C is capable of fighting viruses and bacteria, but these are not its only benefits. Two studies into the effects of vitamin C supplements in autistic children are of particular interest. The first ever test was carried out in 1967 by Dr Bernard Rimland, where B3, B5, B6, and C were administered. In this test, the benefits of using vitamin C in autism were overshadowed by the apparent effectiveness of vitamin B6. However, the dosage for vitamin C was very low (1 to 3 grams per day) and therefore it would be wrong to draw conclusions from this test.

The second study of vitamin C in autism was initiated by Dolske et al in 1993. The study involved a thirty week double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 52mg/lb per day in 18 autistic children. The much higher dosage produced more favourable results.

Is this treatment safe? Vitamin C has been taken in quite high doses without any major side effects. However, it can have a laxative effect and if this should happen then it should stop being administered. As with all these treatments it is essential that a medical professional is consulted.

Where can I get them? Pleasant tasting vitamin C can be bought in most chemists.

Dimethylglycine (DMG) Who could benefit? DMG is a food supplement and therefore a prescription is not required. It is naturally found in some foods such as rice and liver, although only in small amounts. It has appeared to be helpful to children with communication problems, particularly those with minimal speech development.

How successful has this diet proved? Have any studies been carried out?

No official studies or trials have been carried out on DMG in autism or any other disorder. However, Rimland has noted the results of various people who have used the supplement. The first time DMG was discovered to have a positive effect was in 1965 when two Russians, M G Blumena and T L Belyakova, wrote about improvements in the speech of 12 out of 15 mentally handicapped children following use of calcium pangamate (also known as pangamic acid, and whose essential factor is DMG). As well as improved vocabulary and the use of simple sentences there was a marked improvement in their general mental state. Following this, the psychiatrist Allan Cott tried pangamic acid on a number of his patients some of whom had autism and many of which responded to the treatment in the same way as those in Russia.

DMG has also been known to improve behaviour of some children and adults. Rimland has written of a father who gave his son one DMG tablet per day which led to a much improved behaviour report from the childs school.

If DMG is used, then the effects should be apparent within a week, although it should be tried for up to a month to make sure your child responds in a different way.

Is it safe? A small proportion of children who have received DMG have become hyperactive. This is because they are lacking folic acid which is a possible adjunct to DMG. Administering this could help to stop hyperactivity.

Where can I get it? Light and Sound Therapy Centre

90 Queens Walk

London

N16 5UG

Tel: 020 8880 1269

Foodscience Laboratories

28-30 Leg Street

Owestry

Shropshire

SY11 2NN

Tel: 01691 610818

Useful addresses/Contacts Autism Research Institute

4182 Avenue

San Diego

California 92116

USA

Website: www.autism.com/ari/

Gluten and Casein-Free Diet Who could benefit? It is still unclear exactly what effect this diet has on the body, but it has appeared to help those with self-injurious behavioural tendencies and those with irritable bowel syndrome.

How successful has this diet proved? Have any studies been done? Research began in the early 1980s when Herman and Panksepp noted similarities in the behaviour of animals on opioids and the symptoms of autism. Gillberg then produced evidence of people with an increased resistance to pain than the average person having higher levels of endorphin-like substances. At the same time, Reichelt found abnormal peptides in the urine of people with autism. The conclusion they came to was that 50% of people with autism appear to have greater levels of substances with effects akin to opioid peptides. Casein which comes from human or cow milk produces a peptide known as casomorphine which has opioid activities, and gluten from wheat and cereals such as oats and barley whose compounds form gluteomorphins add to the already high level of opioids in the body. Thus, if casein and gluten are removed from or reduced in the diet then autistic peoples behaviour could improve.

There have been no official studies carried out to research the scientific basis of this argument, although the researchers interested in this issue have had much positive feedback from parents who have tried this diet on their children. It has also been observed that those children whose autism appears at or around the time of birth may have a problem with casein and those whose autism became apparent later may have a problem with gluten.

The diets have both proved to be more successful in children than adults.

Is it safe? Clearly, with the amount of food which contains gluten or casein any diet excluding one or the other is going to be very restrictive and thus it is essential that any decision on whether to take up such a diet should be made in consultation with a doctor and preferably with a dietician or nutritionist.

Initially, the person may display negative side-effects such as stomach upset, anxiety, and slightly bad temper. Reichelt argues that these are good signs and should be followed by an improvement within three months. Therefore the diet should be tried for at least three months to allow it to have any effect.

Read an interview with Shattock of the Autism Research Unit, explaining the possible connection between diet and autistic spectrum disorders.

Where can I get more information on how to implement a gluten and casein-free diet? Allergy-Induced Autism

8 Hollie Lucas Road

Kings Heath

Birmingham

B13 0QL

Chief Executive: Rosemary Kessick 01733 331771

Hon. Secretary: Meryl Nee 0121 444 6450

Both are willing to take calls about allergy-induced autism. For information packs it is best to send a SAE to the registered office.

Autism Research Unit

School of Health Sciences

University of Sunderland

Sunderland

SR2 7EE

Tel. 0191 510 8922

Email: aru@...

Website: http://osiris.sunderland.ac.uk/autism/

Yeast-free diet Who could benefit? It has been argued that most children with autism, PDD and ADHD have excessive amounts of intestinal yeast, known as candida. Therefore, it is possible that a large number of these children could benefit from a diet free of yeast. Rimland has mentioned what he considers to be the two major factors for this problem: overuse of antibiotics and too much sugar in the diet.

How successful has this diet proved? Have any tests been done? It is known that in a healthy intestinal tract bacteria, yeasts, and fungi work together to digest food. Antibiotics destroy both harmful and beneficial bacteria, while allowing the amount yeast to increase which means that the yeast can thrive by taking up all the food which the person eats. Candida produces enzymes which aid digestion and these can attack the intestinal wall, allowing undigested food to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This is called "leaky gut". This causes an increase in peptides which are opiates. Thus, as with the gluten and casein-free diet, the parts of the brain which control speech and behaviour are effected detrimentally.

Treatment of this involves a low sugar diet and anti-fungal compounds has shown benefits in reducing the symptoms of autism and PDD. In particular, an increase in concentration, better sleep patterns, less aggressive and self-destructive behaviour, greater use of speech and improved sociability. Also, a reduction in, or complete removal of, yeast from the diet could be helpful.

Is it safe? Clearly, such a radical step as removing yeast which is in such a large number of different foods is difficult. It is an extremely restrictive diet and success depends completely on the compliance of the child, understanding of his/her school and relatives. Any form of treatment, including a yeast-free diet should be done only following tests of the persons urine and close consultation with a doctor and a dietician to ensure that a well-balanced diet is maintained.

Useful addresses/Contacts

British Allergy Foundation

Tel: 020 8303 8583

Allergy-Induced Autism

8 Hollie Lucas Road

Kings Heath

Birmingham

B13 0QL

Chief Executive: Rosemary Kessick 01733 331771

Hon. Secretary: Meryl Nee 0121 444 6450

Both are willing to take calls about allergy-induced autism. For information packs it is best to send a SAE to the registered office.

The parent support group for London can also advise on a yeast-free diet

Autism London 1 Floral Place

Northampton Grove

London

N1 2PL

Helpline: 0207 359 6070 (open Mon-Fri 2-5 p.m.)

Family Services Worker: Dickson

Development Officer:

They will provide details of advocacy, advice, information, support group meetings and outreach visits in all of the London boroughs.

Vitamin A Megson has suggested that natural vitamin A may help people with autism, especially those with vision, sensory perception, language processing, and attention problems. Vitamin A can be found in cold water fish such as salmon, cod, liver, kidney, and milk fat. A useful supplement to take may be cod liver oil.

At present, it is not possible to verify this completely, and so we suggest that her ideas be explored further through her website or by writing to her using the addresses below.

N Megson, MD, FAAP

Developmental Paediatrician

7229 Forest Avenue

Suite 211

Richmond, VA 23226

Fax 804 673 9195

The website address is: www.megson.com/ Serotonin Serotonin is a neuro-transmitter which acts on the brain to influence motivation and mood. The observation that levels of 5-HT (serotonin) were sometimes raised in children with autism was first made in 1961 in a study by Schain and Freedman. Their research found that in approximately 30% children with autism, blood serotonin levels are significantly raised (a condition known as hyperserotonemia). This finding has been validated by many subsequent studies but the reasons for it and the ways in which it can be treated have yet to be identified. Further, the relationship between secretion of neuro-transmitters and mood is more subtle than had been previously supposed.

Several drugs have been tried to redress this problem, none of which have been proved to be very successful although some have reported some improvement. After treatment with one of these drugs (fenfluramine) a group of autistic children showed no reduction in their symptoms of autism nor with any improvement in the intellectual or reasoning abilities. Although its capability to reduce levels of obsessional behaviour and in some cases social functioning was demonstrated.

With regards to diets which may be able to improve the levels of serotonin in people on the autistic spectrum, there a re a number of foods that contain high levels. The most common foods are tomatoes, bananas, plums, pecan nuts (among others) and pineapples. Alternatively, if the level of serotonin need to be reduced then these foods could be avoided. Knivsberg (1990) reported that some parents found that autistic episodes increased when children ate certain foodstuffs (for example bananas) which lends support to the hyperserotonemia case. It is not clear what the effects of reducing serotonin in the diet would be but if parents wish to experiment with this then we recommend that a dietician or nutritionalist is consulted to ensure that a balanced diet is maintained.

Useful Addresses/Contacts

Allergy-Induced Autism

8 Hollie Lucas Road

Kings Heath

Birmingham

B13 0QL

Chief Executive: Rosemary Kessick 01733 331771

Hon. Secretary: Meryl Nee 0121 444 6450

Homoeopathy and G-Therapy This is another intervention which could possibly be useful to someone with autism. At present there is no particular course of homoeopathic treatment which is specifically appropriate in treating autism. If you are interested in pursuing this then it is advised that you always see a trained professional who can cater for the individual needs of the person concerned.

In recent years there has been research carried out into G-Therapy about which the National Autistic Society has little information.

Useful Contacts/Addresses

Homeopathic Trust

Hahnemann House

2 Powis Place

Great Ormond Street

London

WC1N 3HT

Tel: 0171 837 9469

Society of Homeopaths

2 Artizan Road

Northampton

NN1 4HU

Tel: 01604 21400

References 'Vitamin C in the prevention of and treatment of autism'. [Online] Available from: www.autism.com/ari/editorials/vitaminc.html

Dolske, M C (1993) 'A preliminary trial of ascorbic acid as a supplement therapy for autism'. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 17(5), pp. 765-774.

Herman, B H and Panksepp, J (1980) 'Endogenous opioids and social behaviour'. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 4, pp. 473-487.

Knivsberg, A-M (1990) 'Dietary interventions in autistic syndromes'. Brain Dysfunction 3, pp. 315-327.

, L S (1994) 'An experimental intervention for autism: understanding and implementing a gluten and casein free diet'. Autism Research Institute, version 3.4

Reichelt, K (1981) 'Biologically active peptide: containing fractions in schizophrenia and childhood autism'. Adv. Biochem. Psychopharmacol. 28, 627-643.

Rimland, B (1997) 'What is the right "dosage" for Vitamin B6, DMG and other nutrients useful in autism?'. Autism Research Review International, 11(4), p. 3

Rimland, B (1996) 'Vitamin B6 in autism: the safety issue'. Autism Research Review International, 10(3), p. 3

Rimland, B 'Dimethylglycine (DMG), a nontoxic metabolite, and autism'. Autism Research Review International, 14(2), p. 3

Schain, R J and Freedman, D X (1961) 'Studies on 5-Hydroxyindole metabolism in autistic and other mentally retarded persons'. Journal of Pediatrics, 58, pp. 315-20.

Schaumburg, H [et al.] (1983) 'Sensory neuropathy for pyroxidine abuse: a new megavitamin syndrome'. New England Journal of Medicine, 309(8), pp. 445-448.

If you require further information please contact the

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