The Biomedical Basics (including the OMEGA DOSING)

[Guest guest]

Autism ---The Biomedical Basics

By Polly Hattemer, editor of the Health Forum Books, www.dysbiosis.com

The parents are the primary healers for the autistic child. Of course,

doctors are needed. However, without the parents, there are not enough

doctors in the world to make all the observations and implement all

the changes that are needed. Parents need to learn a lot, and they

need to learn it as fast as possible.

Here is a compilation of some basic biomedical knowledge that may help

parents. If you are new to this, then this list will seem

overwhelming. Don't worry. Sometimes it takes hearing things quite a

few times before the implications become clear. (If you would like

more detail than found in this paper, consider purchasing the Health

Forum books at www.dysbiosis.com )

Tolerance. A little irritation for a couple of weeks is normal upon

starting something new. You might start with less if irritation is

present. If a supplement or treatment isn't tolerated, try not to get

frustrated. It may be tolerated later. Look at what is needed to

balance that supplement and start there. Every supplement requires

balance with several other supplements. Eg. Calcium and magnesium need

to be balanced. If one isn't tolerated, try the other.

Monitoring Reactions. Testing is very important, especially when doing

chelation or amino acid supplementation. However, perhaps even more

important are the parent's careful observations of the child's

emotions, learning ability, and physical characteristics. Keep a diary

or notes. Some of the interventions can be started by yourself.

However, before you attempt chelation, you definitely need to have a

personal doctor for your child. You need the doctor to test and

monitor your child before and during the chelation. Also, doctors are

not infallible. Just because a doctor suggests that you try something

doesn't mean that it will be correct for your child. Every child is

different. Be vigilant.

Testing. If you don't have a doctor familiar with the tests you need,

call up the labs like the Great Plains Laboratories and the Great

Smokies Laboratories and ask for a referral. The Great Plains

Laboratories even offers outreach programs where they come to your

city with some autism doctors. This is a great way to get many tests

done at once. There are also services on the Internet where doctors

are available for the purpose of ordering a few tests. These services

are excellent for doing some preliminary work, especially since some

of the autism doctors are booked up six months in advance.

Before Chelation. As much as possible, the gut should be healed and

the dysbiosis should be under control before starting chelation.

(Dysbiosis means parasites, yeast, viruses and the wrong bacteria have

over-whelmed the intestinal environment. Chelation means taking

something to remove harmful metals like lead, tin, cadmium, and

mercury.) Also, the liver and kidney function should be tested before

starting chelation. Minerals and amino acids should be replenished and

in balance. Glutathione and other anti-oxidants should be up. This

takes a lot of work and a lot of patience. The good news is that

sometimes just correcting the body chemistry will allow the heavy

metals to leave on their own, without chelation.

Vaccinations. Vaccinations are suspected of triggering many cases of

autism. Yet, I've heard parents say that they are considering giving

more vaccinations to their autistic children. If you child has autism,

their immune system is already in disarray. Continuing with more

vaccinations could push their immune system further over the edge.

Also, be careful with your other children. If one of your children has

autism, there is a greater than average chance that your other

children are genetically or physically more susceptible to damage from

vaccines.

Rotation and Variety in Supplements. You may want to gain variety in

the way you give supplements. Eg, give beef pancreatic enzymes one

day, and lamb pancreatic enzymes another day. If you have lots of

supplements to give, ask your doctor if there are any that can be

given less often. Eg, a good dose of pregnenolone will last a week,

whereas a dose of folic acid will last 8 hours or less. Get a chart

with all the supplements and check off which ones have been given

recently. Give the child a holiday for a few days from some of the

supplements. Notice if he gets better or worse.

The Craniosacral System

Decreased flexibility of the membrane that covers the brain can

interfere with the proper flow and pumping of the fluid that baths the

brain. This fluid carries nutrients to the brain and removes metabolic

byproducts. The membrane also contains chelating agents that help

remove heavy metals from the brain. The membrane might be damaged by

fevers (eg induced by a vaccine reaction), or by a mechanical injury

such as a birth delivery using suction, or bending the head/neck at

birth. The damage often manifests as compression at the base of the

skull. Many parents have found that cranial manipulation has helped

their children overcome this problem. The treatment procedure is not

frightening. The practitioner places his hands on the head and gently

stretches the membrane that covers the brain. This treatment decreases

the head-banging, thumb-sucking, and wrist-biting behaviors often

found in autism . Once this mechanical stretching of the membrane has

been accomplished, the parents, with proper instruction, can help with

the maintenance. For further information, contact the Upledger

Institute, Inc. Phone 1-800-233-5880, website http://upledger.com

General Diet Considerations

Rotation and Variety in Diet. The rotation diet helps reduce allergy

reactions. However, this makes fewer foods available for use each day.

Thus you may tend to serve only one or two foods at each meal. This is

not good. If at all possible, it is best to employ a wide variety of

foods at each meal. This will help cut down on food allergy reactions.

Use different combinations of foods. The body can become sensitive /

allergic to specific combinations of foods. By changing the

combinations served at each meal, you are adding in more variety.

Mold in Food. Many times it isn't the food that is causing a reaction,

but it is the mold in it. Usually, canned vegetables and fruit have

more mold in them than frozen. Frozen food usually has more mold than

fresh. So use fresh fruits and vegetables whenever possible. Even

condiments like catsup and mustard may have mold. Spices often contain

mold.

GF/CF Diet. A gluten-free and casein-free diet has helped many of the

autistic. (Gluten is a protein found in grains. Casein is a protein

found in milk.) However, the diet needs to be started gradually.

Otherwise, the withdrawal symptoms can be too severe. After being on

the diet for a while, you can consider adding in DPP IV enzymes. These

enzymes have helped many children. Don't try DPP IV before starting

the GF/CF diet. There could be a strong reaction. Even those who have

been on the GF/CF diet for months will sometimes experience an initial

poor reaction to the DPP IV enzymes. If this poor reaction is too

harsh or continues for any length of time, then the use of DPP IV

needs to be reevaluated for your child. The DPP IV enzymes can be

purchased from Kirkman labs (www.kirkmanlabs.com phone (800)

245-8282) or Houston Nutraceuticals (www.houstonni.com phone (866)

757-8627). After being on these enzymes for a while, some of the

children have been able to tolerate casein and gluten again.

SCD diet. The Specific Carbohydrate diet allows the intestines to

heal. Only carbohydrates that are easily digested are allowed. No

grains or potatoes. Fruits and vegetables are to be peeled. In the

beginning, the fruit and vegetables are also to be cooked. Nuts are

allowed. However, be careful with the amount and quality of nuts in

this diet. Nuts, especially peanuts, can be moldy. A child might also

have an allergy to a particular nut. Additionally, most nuts are too

high in linoleic fatty acids to be healthy in large quantities. To

implement this diet, get the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle by Elaine

Gottschall, BA, MSc. Then join one of the Internet discussion groups

that will help you implement the diet. www.scdiet.org

Feingold Diet This diet supports the function of the PST enzyme, which

is usually weak in those with autism. Foods high in phenolics and

salicyaltes are excluded. Phenols are present in food dyes, in highly

colored fruits and vegetables, in bioflavonoids , phytoestrogens and

in cartenoids (carotene, lutein, lycopene, xanthophylls, and zeaxanthin).

's Diet. Max and Desorgher have found that avoiding plant

colors of carotene, lutein and lycopene is sometimes very helpful for

the autistic. They have a lot to say about this at their website.

www.saras-autism-diet.freeservers.com At the very least, it may be

prudent not to use supplements of these colors.

Soy. This should not be part of the diet. It is too closely related to

casein and gluten. Also, the phytoestrogens in soy will put an

additional load on the PST enzyme.

MSG (monosodium glutamate), Modified Food Starch and hydrolyzed

vegetable protein. These are very hard on a person who has been

subjected to yeast overgrowth. Don't feed them to your child. Coenzyme

B6 may help reduce the reaction to these substances.

Protein

If the child avoids protein, then you need to be wary of a possible

problem with ammonia. Get some lab tests. There might be a blockage in

the removal of ammonia. Or it could be that there is an overgrowth of

certain gut bacteria that produce a lot of ammonia from the protein in

a meal. In this situation, forcing more protein or the wrong amino

acids on a child may be quite harmful.

Chicken. If at all feasible, use organic chicken. Arsenic is legally

fed to chickens to get rid of parasites. Some of the arsenic ends up

in the meat.

Pork. This may be necessary to add variety to the meals. However, the

fat from pork should be avoided. The fat from corn or grass-fed pigs

is too high in polyunsaturated oils from the corn and grass that they

have been fed. (Pigs are not designed to eat grass like sheep and

cattle. Sheep and cattle have bacteria in their stomachs that converts

unsaturated fats into saturated fats. Pigs do not. Therefore, the fat

profile of pigs resembles that which they have been fed. )

Beef. If possible, use grass-fed beef instead of the normal

supermarket beef. There should be less estrogen and pesticides in the

fat. If seizures are present, organic chicken may be safer than beef

(assuming there isn't an allergy or sensitivity to chicken).

Emu. Emu meat is very lean and tastes somewhere between beef and

chicken. There are now many farms that sell emu meat. Check for a farm

near where you live. Have it shipped overnight with dry ice.

Fats and Oils

Coconut oil. The lauric acid found in coconut oil will convert into

monolaurin in the intestines. The lauric acid and monolaurin together

will kill off some parasites, yeast and viruses (including measles).

Give the body a chance to get used to this change. Start with no more

than a teaspoon of coconut oil per day for an adult. (Less for a

child.) Mix the oil with some fiber (eg a grated carrot) so that some

of the oil will make it to the last part of the intestines. When using

coconut oil, it can increase metabolic rate. This increases the need

for B6 and other B vitamins. More zinc and other minerals may also be

needed. Therapeutic doses for an adult are three tablespoons of

coconut oil per day. If there is an allergy to coconut, try palm oil

instead. This is also high in lauric acid.

Linoleic fatty acids. These are elevated in many of the fatty acid

profiles of the autistic. Too much linoleic fatty acid in the diet

will decrease IgA, which is needed to protect the intestines. The

linoleic fatty acid will also increase free-radicals and will increase

yeast growth in the intestines. Oils that contain a high proportion of

linoleic fatty acids are safflower, corn, soy, avocado and many of the

nut oils. Avoid these. Common sources of excessive dietary linoleic

fatty acids are restaurant French fries, oily pizza crusts, and

commercial salad dressings. If you are looking for a safe substitute,

olive oil has a low percentage of linoleic fatty acids. Don't be taken

in by the advertisements that compare Canola to olive oil. Canola oil

is not a good substitute for olive oil. Canola is much higher in

oxidized omega-3 oils.

Flax oil. Flax oil has some benefit. It helps to balance out the

excessive linoleic fatty acids found in the typical American diet.

Perhaps this is why some people feel better with a little flax oil in

the diet. However, if we were eating a more natural diet, without all

the linoleic fatty acids in it, then there wouldn't be such a need for

the flax oil. Many of the autistic are getting too much flax oil. They

test high in linolenic fatty acids, which are the predominate fatty

acids found in flax oil. The best strategy is to limit the intake of

both linoleic fatty acids (corn oil, safflower oil, soy oil, etc) and

limit the intake of linolenic fatty acids (flax oil). Be especially

vigilant with kids that have migraines or seizures. They may not

tolerate flax oil.

Flax seeds. The mucilage in these helps with bowel regulation.

However, there is also a downside to flaxseeds. Flaxseeds contain a

chemical that interferes with iodine entering the thyroid gland.

Without iodine, the gland cannot produce thyroid hormone. Three

tablespoons per day of flaxseeds has been known to cause thyroid

goiter. Instead of flaxseeds, consider trying a small amount of

prickly pear cactus leaves for their mucilage content. They will help

sooth the intestine. However, they also can interfere with the

absorption of fats and carbohydrates. So only a small amount is

appropriate. You will find prickly pear cactus leaves in many Mexican

markets and some ordinary grocery stores. Scrape off the thorns with a

knife. You don't have to remove the green covering. Then chop the

leaves and include a little bit when you cook your eggs or other

dishes. The leaves have anti-viral properties. Mucilage is not

recommended on the SCD diet. So a judgement call will have to be made

here. Observations are your best friend.

Primrose oil. The autistic person is often low in the type of fatty

acids found in primrose oil. Sometimes a small supplement of primrose

oil is very helpful. At other times it is not tolerated. Be observant

when you try this. The average person doesn't need a supplement of

primrose oil. That is because their desaturase enzymes are working and

their anti-oxidants are high. The goal should be to change the body

chemistry enough that supplements like primrose oil are not needed.

Desaturase enzymes. Often the delta-6 desaturase enzyme is not working

properly in the autistic. Inadequate thyroid interferes with the

delta-6 desaturase enzyme. So do viruses. There are many nutrients

that support the desaturase enzymes and the proper use of oils. In

particular, a person needs enough vitamin A , E , B6 , niacin, B12 ,

and biotin to use the oils properly. Also needed are the minerals of

selenium , magnesium , manganese , sulfur, and zinc . Protein is

important here too. Excessive polyunsaturated oils (eg, soy,

cottonseed, safflower, flax, fish and corn oil) will interfere with

the desaturase enzymes. Olive oil does not seem to interfere with

these enzymes.

Fish Liver Oil. Keep cod liver oil or other fish liver oils

refrigerated or in the freezer. If it develops a strong fish smell, it

has gone bad. The brand Nordic Naturals has a good reputation for

freshness and purity. They add in some vitamin E to help keep the oil

fresh. (website www.nordicnaturals.com and phone 800-662-2544,)

Fish liver oil is very important for its fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E,

and K. These vitamins reduce inflammation. In particular, enough

vitamin A is critical to the health of the intestines. Yet vitamin A

may be low due to diarrhea or a measles infection. These deplete the

body of vitamin A. Unfortunately, fish liver oils are not always

tolerated. If fish liver oil is not tolerated, try separate

supplements of these vitamins. You can also get some of these vitamins

in a water-soluble form, which may be better tolerated. Like

everything else, be prudent in the amount used. Too much or too little

of these vitamins is not good. If you are going to use high doses of

these vitamins, make sure your doctor monitors this with blood tests,

and make sure you are very observant of the changes in your child.

Fish Oil. Keep refrigerated. This isn't as high in the important

fat-soluble vitamins as fish liver oil. However, like fish liver oil,

it does help keep platelets from clumping together. Although some fish

oil in the diet may be helpful, too much of it can increase

free-radical activity and contribute to seizures. It can also increase

the permeability of the capillaries and contribute to " leaky gut. " A

small amount of fish liver oil may be a better choice than plain fish

oil for this reason.

Emu oil. If processed at low temperatures, emu oil has better

anti-inflammatory properties than fish oil. Emu oil also works better

on scaring when combined with vitamin E. Unfortunately, most companies

heat the oil too much. To obtain emu oil that has been treated

properly, see websites www.australis.com.au/hazelwood and

http://www.crohns-colitis.com/pages/p-aust-nat-health-prod.html

Butter. This has very little casein in it. Ghee, which is clarified

butter, would have even less casein. Raw butter, or at least butter

from pasture-fed animals is considered the best quality. Butter and

ghee are soothing to the intestines.

Cleaning up the Environment

Mold in the Environment. Clean mold off of walls with soap and water.

Fix any water leaks. Consider using a surface stabilizer in showers

and areas that tend to gather mold. Safe 2 Use carries a surface

stabilizer. (phone 760-240-5881 and website www.safetouse.com )

Unfortunately, even if you can't see the mold, it may be under the

floor, and you are being exposed to its toxins. You can reduce the

moisture in a damp area with portable dehumidifier machines (both

small and large models are available). You can also purchase jars of

calcium chloride crystals that remove moisture from the air.

Ozone. Some people employ this to sanitize a room. It kills bacteria,

fungus and viruses. It can also oxidize some chemicals, including

carbon monoxide and pesticides. (It breaks down the chemicals to a

form that may be more tolerable. It doesn't trap them like some

charcoal filters will.) However, it is not healthy to breathe ozone.

It can cause inflammation and constriction of the airways. If you

sanitize a room with ozone, make sure the room is thoroughly aired out

before using it. Some machines (like the high end Ecoquest) have more

than one level of ozone that they produce. One mode of operation puts

out a little ozone all the time. This method of operation is meant to

be used while you are in the room. This may or may not be tolerated.

The other mode of operation puts out a large amount of ozone for a

couple of hours. This last feature is meant to clean the room while

you aren't present. Afterwards the room has to be aired out for a day

or two. Even though you have to be careful about how you use these

ozone generators, some people find them very effective. There are also

water ozonating units that help you clean your fruits and vegetables.

The ozone is bubbled through water. Soaking your fruits and vegetables

in this water will break down the pesticides.

HEPA Filters. These mechanically remove small particles from the air.

They don't destroy chemicals. If possible, test how noisy a model is

before purchasing it.

Carpet. This is a reservoir for dirt, mold and toxins. Vacuum often

with a HEPA vacuum. If you replace the carpet with wood or laminated

flooring, get the kind that doesn't need glue.

Paint. When you paint, use low VOC paint. Be careful. Some companies

say there paint is low VOC, but it really isn't. They are using a

loophole in the way the law defines low VOC. Some colors have more VOC

than others. Safecoat carries low VOC paint, phone 619-239-0321

website www.afmsafecoat.com

Bedding. Wash bedding in hot water to kill dust mites. Sunlight also

kills dust mites. Keep the dust off of the bedding by keeping a

bedspread or sheet over it during the day. Just before bedtime, remove

the bedspread or sheet and place a fresh sheet over the bedding. This

will keep dust from accumulating in your blankets, and it will reduce

the amount of dust the child breathes. Change pillow cases often and

consider getting an allergy pillow cover encasing.

Household Chemicals. Perfumes, cleaning products and paints contain

many irritating chemicals. Baking soda and vinegar are good

substitutes for many cleaning products.

Minerals

Minerals. One of the first things that should be addressed is

increasing the minerals in the body and balancing the mineral profile.

Individual minerals need to be not too high and not too low. Be aware

that if you give a lot of just one mineral, several other minerals

tend to go down. Here is a book that will tell you which minerals

deplete each other: Mineral and Trace Element Analysis by Eleonore

Blaurock-Busch, PhD . The book is quite informative, and available

through a company that does mineral testing. (Trace Minerals

International. www.tracemin.com (800) 437-1404.) Also, there are some

good articles on mineral balancing at www.acu-cell.com

Some companies that do hair mineral analysis wash the hair first and

others don't. Those that wash the hair say that this removes

contaminants from the environment. Those that don't wash the hair say

that the washing chemicals are too harsh. The chemicals remove too

much of the minerals and produce a very inconsistent result. I don't

know who is right. There are three other ways to determine mineral

balance. These are blood, urine and buccal cell (tissue) testing. Of

these, the buccal cell is considered the best.

Zinc. 90% of the autistic are low on this mineral. Many parents use a

skin cream of zinc sulfate to bypass the poor absorption problem of

the gut. However, too much zinc will cause yeast overgrowth and

suppress the immune system. This is one reason why your doctor may

keep testing mineral levels every few months. You don't want to get

too much zinc.

Copper. Too much or too little copper is not good. Very low copper

levels can lead to anemia and other problems. However, copper is

usually high in the autistic. Supplements of molybdenum, manganese,

zinc and vitamin C will lower copper levels.

High copper increases the excitotoxicity of the amino acid cysteine.

If you know the child is high in copper, then avoid food high in

cysteine. This means no whey, no onions and no garlic. Also, most

muscle meat is high in cysteine. The heart muscle would be a better

choice, because it is low in cysteine. Since glutathione contains

cysteine, don't use oral supplements of glutathione when there is

copper poisoning. The glutathione breaks down into cysteine, glutamic

acid and glycine when in contact with stomach acid. A nasal spray of

glutathione would be safer.

Selenium. There is likely a need for more selenium. (Mercury binds to

selenium and wastes it.) However, it is not advisable to give selenium

while copper levels are high. Selenium from biological sources is

usually tolerated better. Solaray and Jarrow make these products.

Solaray's Bio-Active selenium is made by growing mustard in

selenium-rich water. (The selenium in this product is mainly in the

selenocysteine form.) Jarrow sells Activated Selenium, which is made

with broccoli.

Calcium. Without enough calcium, the autistic can suffer eye pain and

may do physical harm to their own eyes. Make sure they get enough high

quality calcium. Some calcium products, especially those made from

bone meal, are contaminated with lead. Get a calcium supplement that

is tested for purity. More supplemental calcium must be given when

growing children are put on milk-free diets. Also, be particularly

careful if the children are given the oral chelation agent called

EDTA. Plain EDTA is not absorbed well from the intestines. Since most

of it remains in the intestines, it will interfere with the absorption

of calcium and other minerals. In general, watch out for all

chelators. Almost all chelators are going to deplete the body of

minerals. Even if you are using a chelator like Metal Flush that is

relatively gentle on mineral stores, you will still have to make sure

there is plenty of minerals getting into the body. As the heavy metals

are removed from biologically active sites, good minerals will be

needed to take their place. If there are abnormally high levels of

calcium in the hair samples, sometimes this is an indication of

mercury poisoning, not an indication of excess calcium. Use the buccal

cell test for calcium. It is the most accurate. (See comments about

buccal cell testing under the magnesium section.)

Salt. Dr. Megson suggests letting autistics have salt . If there

is a G protein defect, three of the channels that remove calcium from

the cells are blocked. The only other major means of removing calcium

is with salt.

Manganese. Elevated manganese is associated with learning

disabilities. If manganese measures high in the body, check your water

supply. If manganese measures low, you need a supplement. Low levels

of manganese contribute to hypoglycemia. Even if manganese levels are

normal, a supplement of it should be included when taking large

amounts of zinc, calcium, magnesium and vitamin B6.

MSM. Often you find adult dose recommendations of several grams per

day. However, many adults and children with intestinal difficulties

have found that this is way too much MSM to start. The body needs a

chance to get used to having sulfur again. Consistent doses of merely

250 mg of MSM per day for adults have shown benefits. Although MSM

clears from the blood stream fairly rapidly, its effects are longer.

Do not consider increasing the dose until after being on the present

dose for at least three days. If you do work up to the higher doses,

be aware that increased sulfur intake can lower zinc, copper,

selenium, calcium and molybdenum. When mercury poisoning is present,

Andy Cutler (author of Amalgam Illness: Diagnosis and Treatment)

suggests that MSM may do more harm than good. It will move too much

mercury around without escorting it out of the body. Instead of using

MSM, he suggests that sulfates are a more appropriate source of sulfur

when mercury poisoning is present.

Sulfates. Sources of sulfates are chondroitan sulfate, Epsom Salt

baths, zinc sulfate and other minerals in the sulfate form. Sulfates

are cleared from the blood fairly rapidly. People have noticed that

giving sulfates at least twice per day helps to sustain the benefits.

You can dab on a mixture of Epsom Salts and water onto the skin, or

you can make a skin cream. Dissolve about a teaspoon of Epsom Salts in

a teaspoon of warm water. Then add three or four teaspoons of coconut

oil to create a skin cream. (If the coconut oil is hard, sit the

bottle in a bowel of warm water for a little while.)

Magnesium. Many children have improved when given this mineral

supplement. It is one of the first things that doctors suggest

replenishing. A good way to get more magnesium is with Epsom Salts

baths. Use an oral supplement of magnesium if there is constipation.

This will help relieve this situation. Although it is unusual to hear

of an overdose of this mineral, it does happen. Don't use unusually

large doses for the child's body weight without careful

testing/monitoring. The most accurate way of monitoring this mineral

is with a buccal cell test. The sublingual epithelial buccal cell test

is available from IntraCellular Diagnostics, phone (800) 874-4804.

This is the only lab doing this buccal cell test at present. The test

includes magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, and chloride.

Epsom Salt Baths. Epsom Salts is magnesium sulfate. Use only brands

that have been tested for purity. Start slowly. Most people use a cup

of Epsom Salts in a bath for 20 minutes. However, to start, use less

Epsom Salts and less time. The magnesium will lower blood pressure.

Some will feel faint at first. Add in a cup of baking soda to the

bath. This will improve the absorption of minerals through the skin.

Not all children will tolerate these baths.

Iodine. Too much or too little of this is not good. Iodine is

necessary for the formation of the thyroid hormone. It also helps keep

pathogens under control. Yet too much iodine can form a complex with

unsaturated oils and become toxic to the thyroid. A urine iodide test

is one of the more accurate ways to test this mineral. However, many

people use a skin test to see if enough iodine is present. A one or

two inch square patch is painted on the skin using Lugol's iodine

solution. (Lugol's Iodine Solution contains water and 1.5 oz of

granular iodine per quart and 3 oz of potassium iodide per quart.) If

the color disappears before 24 hours, then this is an indication that

more iodine is needed. To increase iodine stores, the iodine can be

painted on the skin each day until the color remains. Even if low,

iodine might not be tolerated if the person has elevated antigens to

thyroid. Be careful. Some people are allergic to iodine. Exposure to

chlorine, bromine and fluoride will displace / deplete iodine. Common

sources of exposure are swimming pools and pesticides.

Chlorine. This can reduce taurine. It can also interfere with the

effectiveness of NDF, a metal chelator. It can also displace iodine.

You can get charcoal filters that fit over the bathtub faucet or on

the showerhead to remove the chlorine.

Fluoride. This suppresses thyroid and makes mercury more toxic. Look

for hidden sources of fluoride. The most common hidden source of

fluoride is reconstituted fruit juice that is made with fluoridated water.

Bath Balls. These are used to remove chlorine and fluoride from the

bath water. Swish the balls through the water and then remove them

before adding Epsom Salts. Otherwise you will ruin the bath balls.

Digestion Aids

Stomach acid. This is needed to absorb minerals orally. It is often

too low. There are several ways to determine whether or not the

stomach acid levels are adequate. One of the most simple tests is to

give bicarbonates and watch the reaction. Dr. ph A. Debé suggests

the following procedure. For an adult, put a quarter teaspoon of

baking soda in 8 ounces of water and then have them drink it first

thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything else. (A

child would not have to drink the whole 8 ounces.) Then check how long

it takes before the person belches. If it is longer than 2 or 3

minutes before a belch is produced, then this is an indication of poor

stomach acid production. A lot of immediate repeated belching might

indicate excess stomach acid.

The stomach acid production may have to be temporarily supported with

a supplement of betaine HCL. This can be very helpful. An adult will

usually take about 10 to 30 grains of betaine HCL with a meal, which

is usually one to three pills. However, this supplement should not be

used if there are stomach ulcers or esophageal lesions. Stomach ulcers

are usually associated with an H. pylori infection. You can get a

blood or breath test for H. pylori. It is a very common infection in

those with intestinal difficulties. An H. pylori infection will lower

your normal stomach acid production. It will also interfere with your

absorption of B12. Common treatments for a H. pylori infection are

antibiotics (Omeprazole, Losec, and Amoxicillin), vitamin C,

grapefruit seed extract, deglycerolized licorice, bismuth

(Pepto-Bismol, but don't overdo this.), mastic gum, Active Manuka

honey, magnesium, zinc and monolaurin.

Baking Soda, Alka Seltzer Gold and Tri-Salts. Baking Soda is sodium

bicarbonate. Alka Seltzer Gold is sodium and potassium bicarbonates

with citric acid. (Don't use regular Alka Seltzer.) Tri-salts from

BioTech Pharmacal is a mixture of calcium carbonate, sodium

bicarbonate, and potassium bicarbonate. Individuals may do better with

one of these than the others. These carbonate and bicarbonate products

can help stop a bad reaction to a food. They can also be used to help

neutralize stomach acid. Approximately an hour and a half after

eating, the stomach dumps its contents into the small intestine. (The

time depends on the size of the meal and how much fat was in it. Fat

slows things down.) Then the pancreas dumps in bicarbonates and

pancreatic enzymes. A little extra bicarbonates an hour or two after a

meal is often helpful.

Digestive enzymes. Dr. Bradstreet warns that children should not be

put on digestive enzymes until after they have started the GF/CF

(gluten-free, casein-free) diet. Otherwise, the addition of these

digestive enzymes may raise levels of opiods. Many people suggest

using " plant " derived digestive enzymes because these work over a wide

range of pH. However, you may want to also try the pancreatic enzymes

and see if they are better for your child. Pancreatic enzymes are what

the body was designed to use. The body regulates them by using pH to

turn them on and off. You can purchase beef, lamb and pork digestive

enzymes from Allergy Research / Nutricology. Then rotate their use to

avoid setting up an allergy to them. These will help eliminate yeast

in the intestines. Ever since pancreatic enzymes first appeared on the

market, there have been claims that they are a waste of money. The

claim is that pancreatic enzymes are useless since the stomach acid

will destroy them. Don't worry about it. When the enzymes reach the

intestines, the environment is more alkaline, and they regain some of

their effectiveness. Many people have found them effective. However,

there are differences between brands. You may find some brands are not

tolerated and others are.

Bile. Bile is created by the liver, delivered to the gallbladder and

then stored there until needed. When food from the stomach enters the

small intestine, the gallbladder empties the bile into the intestines.

At the same time, the pancreas delivers enzymes and bicarbonates to

the small intestines. If for any reason, there isn't enough bile and

lipase (a pancreatic enzyme), then the absorption of fat and

fat-soluable vitamins is impaired. The stool will be light-colored.

Supplements of bile are available from www.DEWSnatural.com Although

adequate bile salts are very critical, you can get too much. If a lot

of bile reaches the large intestine, it acts as an irritant. Bile will

reduce bacteria growth.

No-Fenol This product is supposed to help the body separate the

phenolics from carbohydrates and perhaps allow the body to dispose of

the phenolics better. (phone (866) 757-8627 and website

www.houstonni.com ) Many parents have found this digestive enzyme

supplement very helpful.

Probiotics

Probiotic supplements can be bacteria, yeast or even transient

parasites. These supplements alter the flora of the intestines.

Probiotic supplements generally don't overwhelm the existing

intestinal bacteria with their numbers. They change the environment.

This shift in environment changes the type of bacteria that are able

to survive in the intestines. As the environment changes, the bacteria

mixture shifts. Where it ends up doesn't depend just on the type of

probiotic taken. It also depends on what bacteria, viruses, and

parasites were there at the start. This is why each person's reaction

to a probiotic is so different. Examples: One person may find that

bifidus makes them bloat, and yet another person will adamantly insist

that bifidus is the only probiotic that is gentle enough for their

system. Another person might say that soil-based bacteria were

wonderful at first, but then it seemed to make things worse.

Acidophilus may increase D-lactic acid too much in one person, but in

another, the acidophilus may replace some harmful bacteria.

Probiotics and Protoza. Dr. Leo Galland warns that probiotics could

increase the growth of protozoal parasites. Therefore, one must first

take steps to eliminate or reduce the presence of protozoal parasites

before employing probiotics. (There are homeopathic remedies, herbs,

MSM, monolaurin and antibiotics that can help eradicate protozoa

infections.)

Rotation and Variety in Probiotics. The body has an immune response to

probiotics. One way to realize the benefit of this immune response is

to rub some of the probiotics into the gums. This way, the probiotics

don't have to make it past the stomach acid. Yet, you still get an

immune response. (Do this after the teeth have been cleaned.) Another

way to get the best immune response is to start and stop the

probiotics. It takes 2 to 4 weeks for the body to set up an immune

reaction to the probiotics. After introducing the body to the

probiotics, stay on them for 2 to 4 weeks. Then take a break for a

similar amount of time. Or better yet, every 2 to 4 weeks, change the

type of probiotic employed. This will improve the body's immune

response to the probiotics.

FOS and Inulin. FOS and/or Inulin are added to some probiotic products

to support the growth of good bacteria. Some people claim these are

beneficial and others say they make things worse. So if you decide to

use these, be very careful / observant. Unfortunately, FOS and inulin

can also feed some bacteria and yeast that are harmful. Yet, the

proponents claim that FOS and inulin feed more good bacteria than bad

bacteria. Even if the FOS and inulin do as claimed, there is still

another potential problem. FOS and inulin may encourage the growth of

bacteria in the small intestine. For a healthy person, this isn't a

problem. The body will just remove any excess bacteria with a strong

constriction wave. (Excessive bacteria in the small intestine can be

quite harmful even if it consists of " good " bacteria.) For those where

this constriction wave is missing or weak, you don't want to encourage

the growth of bacteria in the small intestine by feeding FOS or Inulin.

Small Intestine Bacteria. Besides correcting the type of bacteria in

the intestines, you have to consider where the bacteria reside. The

small intestine should be relatively clear of bacteria. Too keep the

small intestine clear of bacteria, the body squeezes the debris and

bacteria out of the small intestines. In order for this constriction

wave to work properly, you have to work on getting rid of intestinal

inflammation and on normalizing the body's hormones and

neurotransmitters. Also, just the presence of this excess bacteria can

interfere with the contraction wave. Diet can help reduce the amount

of bacteria in the small intestine. Usually, the excess bacteria is

located at the end of the small intestine. If you eat food that is

easily digested, then most of the nutrients will be absorbed before

reaching the last part of the small intestine. This way you don't feed

the excess bacteria in the latter part of the small intestine.

Soil-based Probiotics. These are not normal residents of the

intestine. So there is some concern about using them long term.

However, many people have found that they are very helpful. Presently,

there are only a few brands on the market. Each uses a different base

material. One of these products purposely adds in plants that are high

in phytosterols and phytosterolins.

Phytosterols and phytosterolins. These are starting to show up in many

different health products. These shift the immune system in a manner

that is usually helpful to people who have dysbiosis. However, some

caution is warranted. Beta-sitosterol , the main plant sterol, is

considered a phytoestrogen / hormone disrupter. It has been shown to

alter the reproductive systems of rabbits and fish. There is risk with

any phytoestrogen.

Antifungals

Before starting on antifungals, it is best to implement a diet that

reduces yeast growth. Otherwise, the antifungal may kill too much

yeast too quickly, and make the person sick. If you first get a stool

analysis, then you will have an indication of which yeast are the most

predominant in the intestines. Then you can employ the antifungal that

has the best chance of reducing this particular yeast growth. There

are both herbal and prescription medications that can be used. Many of

these affect the liver. So one must be observant and careful. Also, if

one antifungal doesn't help, try a different one. It may work.

Nystatin is considered the safest prescription antifungal. It is also

the most commonly prescribed antifungal medication for children.

However, the usual Nystatin prescription contains additives that might

not be tolerated. To avoid the additives, you can have your doctor

write a prescription for intravenous Nystatin, but then you administer

it by mouth.

Sometimes the main problem isn't yeast, but harmful bacteria or

parasites. Although not perfect, stool and urine tests can also help

you determine the extent of these problems. Once you know what is

present, your doctor can chose the most appropriate treatment.

Vitamins for Proper Methyl Metabolism

Folic acid. It is best to spread this B vitamin out over the day. Take

the folic acid three times per day or more if your schedule permits.

Folic acid supplements should be balanced with B12. There is now an

active form of folic acid available called folinic acid. Folic acid is

particularly important when arsenic poisoning is present. Asparagus

contains a lot of folic acid. Asparagus also is a source of FOS.

B12. Intestinal problems often lead to a lack of B12. B12 can be

administered via a shot (several times per week), or it can be brought

in through the skin using DMSO. A nasal spray can also be made. There

are several different types of B12. The form of B12 called

methylcobalamin supports the healthy structure and functioning of the

brain and nervous system. The form of B12 called adenosylcobalamin is

readily stored in the liver and mitochondria. (Adenosylcobalamin is

also known as cobamamide, cobinamide, or dibencozide.) The form of B12

called hydroxycobalamin will convert in the body to the other two

forms of B12 just mentioned. There is also a form of B12 is called

cyanocobalamin. It has to be converted in to the other forms before it

can be useful in the body. Cyanocobalamin contains cyanide and is

therefore not the best form of B12. It does cost less, and therefore

it is most common form of B12 on the market

Balancing B12 and Folic acid. It is wise to supplement both vitamin

B12 and folic acid at the same time. This will help avoid an imbalance

between the two. What is the correct proportion? A good place to start

your experimentation is with 2.5 times as much folic acid as

hydroxycobalamin by weight. This is what Alan Vitinsky, MD has found

works well for his patients. Since folic acid has a short half-life,

it is best to take this mixture several times per day. You can get a

compounding pharmacy to create separate liquids of these two vitamins.

College Pharmacy carries it. (800) 888-9358 These can be sprayed in

the nose or mouth. Another option is to get the hydroxycobalamin pills

from Perque (www.perque.com and phone (800) 525-7372) and get the

folic acid pills from you local health food store. Start with less,

and work up to more. A lot is needed. For a 60 pound child, Dr.

Vitinsky usually employs 2500 mcg folic acid with 1000 mcg pure

hydroxycobalamin taken 3 to 4 times per day. However, start slow to

give the body time to adjust.

DMG and TMG. (Dimethylglycine and Trimethylglycine.) These improve

methylation in the body. Many have said that they improved language in

their child. Some kids tolerate DMG but not TMG. Whichever one of

these is used, it needs to be balanced with folic acid and vitamin

B12. For each 125 mg pill of DMG, try using two 800 mcg pills of folic

acid. Dr. Bernard Rimland has found that this is approximately the

best ratio. If there is a poor reaction to DMG and TMG, consider

starting with folic acid, B12 and niacinamide first.

B6 and coenzyme B6. This has proven to be one of the most important

supplements for the autistic. A mixture of the two forms is often

employed. However, you might check which is the best for your child.

Often when there is yeast overgrowth, there is an impairment in the

body's ability to create the active or coenzyme form of B6. If you

give the active form, it should not be at the same time as other

supplements. It is somewhat delicate. Also, when you first start the

coenzyme B6, it should be given in the morning. Otherwise, for the

first couple of weeks it might interfere with sleep. After that, you

may be lucky and find that sleep is much better with the coenzyme B6.

Like everything else, you can get too much. Coenzyme B6 will interfere

with the PST enzyme, which is often weak in autism. Too much ordinary

B6 can take up the receptors meant for coenzyme B6 and cause nerve

problems. In this sense, the coenzyme B6 is a much better product. If

there is a poor reaction to both B6 and coenzyme B6, consider trying

folic acid and B12 first. Also, you may wish to try using more

magnesium before attempting the B6 again.

Hormones

Thyroid. About a third of the autistic have central hypothyroidism.

This type of hypothyroidism is not detected by the usual blood tests.

A TRH test taken in the evening may find it. However, this special

test itself may cause temporary regression. The injected TRH may

stress the pituitary. Instead of resorting to this test, it may be

prudent to get a diagnosis based on symptoms.

Once you have the diagnosis, then you need to decide what type of

thyroid hormone replacement to use. Although many conventional doctors

have been trained to use a T4 thyroid supplement, the alternative

community has found that the natural thyroid supplements usually work

better. (Several of the Health Forum books talk a lot more about the

thyroid issue. Or look up some of the information on thyroid at the

about.com website and get some of the Broda Foundation tapes.)

Thyroid supplements should not be given if the adrenals are weak and

have not been supported yet. Thyroid supplements should be started at

a low dose and gradually increased. When using natural thyroid or T4

thyroid, the dose should not be increased more often than once every

two weeks. It takes several weeks for the dose to build up in the

body. Observe reactions carefully. After being on a natural thyroid

supplement for a while, consider adding in a T3 thyroid supplement.

Sometimes this is helpful.

Adrenals. If the blood pressure is below 100 systolic (the upper

number), then this is a very strong indication that the adrenals need

help. More salt and water may help bring up the blood volume and

resolve a low blood pressure issue. However, the adrenals can be weak

even if the blood pressure is normal or high. There are lots of

supplements that might be helpful for the adrenals. These are salt,

sugar, pantethine, vitamin C, dried adrenal, B vitamins,

phosphatidylserine, pregnenolone, progesterone and taurine. However,

no supplement is perfect. Learn about the pros and cons of each.

Pregnenolone. Pregnenolone is good support for the whole body, but

especially the adrenals. There is reason to believe that a

pregnenolone supplement may be of help in autism. In autism,

cholesterol, coenzyme Q10, thyroid and vitamin A are often in short

supply. These are needed to form adequate pregnenolone. (Coenzyme Q10

is needed to create cholesterol. Vitamin A and thyroid are needed to

form pregnenolone from cholesterol.) Kane has found that a

small daily supplement of pregnenolone (25 mg) has helped some of the

autistic.

However, before supplementing with pregnenolone, you should prepare

the liver to handle this. The body uses pregnenolone to create

hormones. With additional pregnenolone, more hormones can be made. The

liver has to dispose of unneeded hormones. This is why you can't just

give hormones and expect the body to handle them. It is important to

support the liver's functions. Especially make sure that there are

adequate sulfates available to handle the hormones.

Estrogen. This causes the retention of copper and the loss of zinc,

folic acid, B12 and B6. Estrogen also suppresses thyroid. It

suppresses the detoxification functions of the body. It can promote

seizures. Avoid estrogen and estrogen mimics (pesticides, laquers, and

phytoestrogens).

Amino Acids

Amino acids. These are the building block of protein. If the child

does not tolerate protein, then don't start on a random

supplementation of amino acids. It may lead to a dangerous build-up of

ammonia. However, you can use certain amino acids to bring down

ammonia. Consult with your doctor if there is an ammonia problem.

For a healthy body, the amino acids need to be kept in balance.

Unfortunately, dysbiosis will alter the amino acid balance. An

imbalance interferes with many functions of the body. When the amino

acids are unbalanced, the body is forced to destroy some of the amino

acids in order to create more balance. The destruction of these amino

acids creates more ammonia. Ammonia is harmful to the body.

You can get both blood and urine tests for amino acids. If you can

afford it, get both. A skillful interpretation of these results can be

quite beneficial. However, use the results and recommendations as a

general guide, not an absolute. This is not an exact science unto

itself. Watch the reactions of the body.

Taurine. Taurine helps to prevent seizures. Taurine helps the body

form bile. It also helps the cells detoxify. Sometimes taurine is

elevated if the body isn't using it properly. If high, it is not

prudent to add in more. However, for most of the autistic, the taurine

levels are low. Yeast overgrowth depletes taurine. Unless instructed

differently by your doctor, start with only a small amount of taurine

(eg. 50 mg instead of 500 mg) and allow the body time to get used to

this supplement. Give the taurine with a meal, because taurine will

increase stomach acid secretion. Taurine will also alter the balance

of intestinal flora, for better or worse. This is another reason to

start with only a small amount. It is difficult to accurately measure

taurine in the blood. You will find that the test results show a

rather wide range of " normal " for taurine. Although the blood tests

are helpful, you may have to place more emphasis on how the body

reacts to this amino acid than on the blood tests.

Glycine. Glycine improves memory and learning. Glycine, has been found

to protect against carcinogenesis, inflammation, fibrosis,

neurological damage, seizures, shock, asthma, and hypertension.

However, glycine will alter the balance of bacteria growing in the

intestines. This may or may not be advantageous. Although generally a

very good supplement, always observe reactions. This supplement is not

a sugar, but it is very sweet. You may want to get the loose powder

and use a teaspoon as a sweetener on food.

Glutathione. This is a tri-peptide consisting of three amino acids ---

glycine, cysteine and glutamic acid. It will break down into these

separate amino acids when it comes in contact with stomach acid.

Therefore, it may be best to get a nasal or mouth spray of glutathione

or a skin cream. Glutathione is an anti-oxidant that helps protect the

nervous system. Having enough glutathione is particularly important

when mercury is being chelated or moved around in the body. To

increase glutathione levels, Dr. Jill (Arkansas Children's

Hospital Research Institute) has found that it is very important to

support sulfur chemistry with things like folic acid, B12 and TMG.

Many people suggest taking cysteine to increase glutathione. Although

cysteine is often the limiting nutrient in the creation of

glutathione, supplements of cysteine can be a mistake. Cysteine should

not be supplemented when copper levels are high. Also, sometimes there

are high levels of cysteine in the mercury poisoned. The levels should

be measured before considering a supplement of cysteine. If cysteine

levels are low, then undenatured whey is a good source of cysteine.

Undenatured whey will also increase levels of glutathione.

AKG or Alpha ketoglutaric acid. This is lowered by the yeast toxin

acetylaldehyde. AKG is crucial to energy production and it is needed

to remove ammonia. OKG is another substance that is often recommended

to help with the removal of ammonia. OKG is a mixture of ornithine and

alpha ketoglutaric acid. Even though it is very important to remove

ammonia, it is also important not to get too much AKG. AKG is closely

related to the excitotoxic glutamate.

Glutamine. This amino acid is often recommended to help heal the

intestines. Yet, not everyone will tolerate glutamine. In the

intestines, glutamine converts to glutamate and releases ammonia.

Ammonia interferes with sleep and interferes with cellular energy

production. The extra ammonia is one reason that glutamine might not

be tolerated. Glutamine can also cause constipation. Glutamine can

lower taurine. This reduction of taurine is not good. Taurine is very

important for the body and a taurine deficiency is common in autism.

Therefore, you might want to consider correcting a taurine deficiency

before experimenting with glutamine. Also, perhaps take some more

taurine when using the glutamine. It is usually better to wait until

most of the dysbiosis (poor gut flora) is gone before trying

glutamine. Otherwise, some bacteria may convert glutamine into

unwanted substances.

There is a new glutamine product that may be better tolerated. It is

Perque's Endura Guard. www.perque.com phone (800) 525-7372 It is a

mixture of glutamine and PAK. (PAK is a mixture of B6 and alpha

ketoglutaric acid.) The PAK in this product helps recycle the

glutamine. Therefore less glutamine will be needed to achieve

therapeutic goals. Also, compared to other glutamine products, there

should not be as much build up of the excitotoxic glutamate.

Tryptophan and 5-HTP. Approach use with a great deal of caution.

Although tryptophan is needed for muscle growth, those eating muscle

meat are getting plenty. In fact, too much tryptophan can be quite a

problem because it is antagonistic to thyroid function. If tryptophan

measures low, you need to still be careful with supplementation. One

of the reasons the tryptophan may be low is that bacteria are

converting it into IAG, which is harmful. More tryptophan in the diet

would only make this problem worse.

5-HTP is a form of tryptophan that is not converted into IAG. Yet,

5-HTP is not without its own problems. 5-HTP will increase serotonin,

and in some circumstances, this can be quite harmful. In many cases of

autism there is too much free serotonin. The same problem with free

serotonin happens in fibromyalgia. The problem is examined in some

detail in the 7th book of the Health Forum. The main idea can be found

in a free excerpt from the Health Forum books at

www.healthyawareness.net/forum/b.asp?m=22

Other Supplements

Colostrum. Colostrum is meant to be drunk, not swallowed in pills.

Drink the colostrum or rub the powder on the inside of the mouth. Its

immune modulating properties will be enhanced. Do the same with

lactoferrin supplements. Use products that say the colostrum was

gathered during the first 24 hours or less. Kirkman carries

casein-free colostrum.

Monolaurin. This kills measles and Herpes viruses. There are many

places to purchase this on the Internet. It tastes like soap. So find

something to mask the taste.

Coenzyme Q10. There are brands of coenzyme Q10 that are very poor

quality. Purchase yours from a source that you trust. Children with

yeast overgrowth in the upper part of the bowel are more likely to be

extremely depleted of this vitamin. This is because the yeast get to

this nutrient first and convert the coenzyme Q10 into a form that the

body cannot use. Children with failure to thrive (they stop growing),

are fairly likely to have yeast in the upper part of the small

intestine. In this case, antifungals may have to be employed while

giving relatively large doses of coenzyme Q10. In serious situations,

intravenous coenzyme Q10 may need to be employed. If the fat-soluble

form of coenzyme Q10 is not tolerated, you might get a gentler

reaction by starting with the hydrosoluble or water-soluble form

available from Country Life.

Fat-soluble vitamins. All the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) have

anti-inflammatory properties. These vitamins are often low in autism.

In particular, vitamin A is very important for healthy intestines and

flora. According to Dr. Lars Hanson, in rats, vitamin A deficiency

causes " a contaminated bowel syndrome, accompanied by a very abnormal

immune response with IgE antibody formation to the bacteria,

dyspagocytosis, increased translocation [leaky gut ], and a number of

other abnormalities, such as increased nitric oxide production. " It is

very important to get enough of these vitamins, however, you can get

too much. If you don't have tests to guide you, taking an amount

equivalent to the RDA is usually safe. You just need to make sure that

this amount is getting absorbed.

Phosphatidylcholine. Phosphatidylcholine protects the liver, may help

with hyperactivity and can help with general brain function.

Bioflavonoids. Be careful about using a supplement of these. It might

not be healthy for your child. You child may already be getting enough

bioflavonoids in their regular diet. Quercitin, rutin, and other

bioflavonoids suppress the detoxification systems of the body.

Bioflavonoids are polyphenols. Many of the autistic have trouble

removing the phenols found in vegetable and fruit colors, food dyes,

estrogen and bioflavonoids. One of the main reasons we are told to

take bioflavonoids is that they are excellent antioxidants. However,

one can take this too far. Bioflavonoids aren't always antioxidants.

For example: a little of the bioflavonoid called quercetin has

anti-oxidant properties, but a lot has oxidant properties.

Carotene. Carotene is not a good substitute for vitamin A. Children

often have a problem converting carotene into vitamin A. Also, anyone

with liver or thyroid problems are likely to have a problem converting

carotene into vitamin A. Carotene can displace vitamin A by competing

for vitamin A receptors.

Vitamin B5. This B vitamin is important to the autistic. It helps the

body create coenzyme A. Coenzyme A is depleted by exposure to yeast

toxins. (I know this is confusing, but coenzyme A is not related to

vitamin A.) Vitamin B5 also facilitates the creation of an important

neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. There are two different forms

of B5 that you will want to know about --- pantethenic acid and

pantethine. Vitamin B5 is officially pantethenic acid. Its coenzyme

form is called pantethine. Pantethine will help create taurine,

whereas, pantethenic acid does not. Taurine is often low in the

autistic. Therefore pantethine may be a better choice.

Biotin. This B vitamin is manufactured by good bacteria. It is a

sulfur containing B vitamin. When there is dysbiosis (poor intestinal

flora) the body can become depleted of this B vitamin. Unfortunately,

biotin may encourage the growth of yeast. So it might be prudent to

first lower the yeast growth in the intestines before starting on an

oral supplement of this vitamin. Biotin should be taken with a

supplement of another B vitamin called inositol; otherwise the biotin

is hard on the liver. To use biotin properly, more pantethine may be

needed. However, biotin competes for transport with pantethine.

Therefore, to improve absorption, it may be best to take the biotin at

a different meal than the pantethine supplement.

Vitamin C. What little research that has been done on autism and

vitamin C suggests that large amounts could be helpful. See these

articles by Bernard Rimland. www.autisme.net/vitaminc-uk.html and

www.autisme.net/dosage-uk.html If you are in the habit of giving large

amounts of vitamin C, you may get a rebound effect if you skip a day.

The body will act as if it is lacking vitamin C. Therefore, if you

decide to stop, do so gradually.

Very large amounts of ordinary vitamin C will cause diarrhea (eg, 15

grams or more). The threshold at which this occurs is different for

each person. In fact, some people determine the dose they take by

giving enough vitamin C to cause diarrhea and then back down until the

diarrhea stops. However, these huge amounts of vitamin C aren't

proportional to how much is being absorbed. Absorption falls off very

dramatically with higher doses. There is a marked reduction after a

mere 100 mg per day.

A much higher proportion of the vitamin C will be absorbed if you give

smaller amounts distributed throughout the day. Another way to improve

absorption is to encapsulate the vitamin C inside micro droplets of

essential phospholipids. There are a few companies that sell this.

BioImmune calls their product Ultra Absorbic-C. (This product also

contains a little lipoic acid and magnesium.) The BioImmune website is

www.BioImmune.com and their phone is (888) 663-8844. Here is another

company, International Research and Development, Inc. They have two

vitamin C products with the phospholipids. Inquire as to the

differences and price. Their website is www.irdcorp.net and their

phone is 928-536-7646. (They also carry a glutathione product with

phospholipids.)

Read labels carefully. Sometimes vitamin labels will say they are

hypoallergenic even though they are made from corn. Be careful if you

decide to use Ester C products. Most of these contain a lot of

bioflavonoids. Vitamin C products that are meant to be used in high

doses will often be packaged with bicarbonates. There may be enough

bicarbonates in these to affect stomach acid levels. Therefore, it is

probably best to use these bicarbonate products in-between meals, or

at least an hour or two after a meal.

For optimum benefit to the body, vitamin C should be kept in balance

with other elemental reducing agents like coenzyme Q10, vitamin E and

glutathione. Therefore, bring these nutrient levels up at the same

time as you increase vitamin C.

Secretin. This is a hormone made by the cells lining the small

intestine. Some of the autistic children improve significantly when

given natural secretin. For the vast majority of children, there have

been no adverse effects, although increased hyperactivity is to be

expected for a while after the infusion. Unfortunately, there have

been a couple of children who suffered seizures from the infusions .

Perhaps the amount of secretin was too much for that child. Instead of

infusions, DMSO can be used to bring the secretin into the bloodstream

from a topical application. The best amount of secretin applied needs

to be determined for each child - not too much and not too little.

Instead of purse secretin, some people are using about a teaspoon of

duodenum after meals. Duodenum is a naturally occurring source of

secretin and other components of the small intestine. See

www.krysalis.com Another option is homeopathic secretin. With this,

it may take several weeks for the changes to become apparent. Since

there is such a tiny amount of secretin in this homeopathic

medication, it should be a pretty safe treatment. Homeopathic secretin

is available from Ainsworths Homoeopathic Pharmacy, 36 New Cavendish

Street, London W1M 7LH. Telephone 0171-935 5330, fax 0171-486 4313.

E-mail Ainshom@...

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DISCLAIMER

This is general information. It cannot be perfectly applied to any

one individual, especially without testing and proper interpretation

of that testing. This information should not be construed as

individual or professional help.

©2004 by Polly Hattemer, also known as ine Hattemer

(PhD in engineering)

This article may be freely distributed in its entirety, so long as it

is for educational and non-profit activities / purposes.