Autism Spectrum
Diet and Autism 1
By Emily Deans, M.D.
http://evolutionarypsychiatry.blogspot.com/2010/09/diet-and-autism-1.html
Excerpt: "What is autism, and what causes it? Well, there is no universal theory, no consistent genetic findings (though autism does seem to run in families sometimes), and no agreed upon biological mechanism for what causes autism (3). Some researchers feel it is a brain development problem. Others wonder if autism is a set of disorders similar to phenylketonuria (where an inability to metabolize a certain amino acid can lead to progressive mental retardation, brain damage, and seizures, but can be averted by not eating that amino acid, phenylalanine).
The whole idea that gluten-free casein-free diets might be useful for autism is based on theories that exorphins (protein fragments that act as opiates) from gluten and casein might make it through the intestinal barrier and go on to act on the brain, causing harm. A similar theory is at work in gluten-free diets and schizophrenia. One very interesting tidbit of information: kids with autism and their family members seem to have leakier guts than families without autism (4). (Here's a finding which makes the Harvard Mental Health Letter's statement that researchers are promoting "autism diets" with no scientific support, seem, well, cranky. To be fair, the largest and best gluten-free casein-free diet trial was published in April of 2010 too, and the leaky gut study I'm looking at is epublished ahead of print, meaning it doesn't seem to even be officially published yet.)"
Diet and Autism 2
http://evolutionarypsychiatry.blogspot.com/2010/09/diet-and-autism-2.html
Excerpt: "The take-away point? Once again, I think there is enough scientific evidence to suggest that some kids with ASDs will, in fact, benefit from a gluten-free, casein-free diet, and while it is no cure and may not be a part of the original cause (some known teratogens that cause autism seem to work at around 8 weeks gestation (7)), it may be worth a try. It shouldn't be attempted without some professional nutritional advice, especially in a picky kid. And it's clearly no holy grail.
Another point - gluten is (once again) creepy. Gliadin and zonulin do not a good combination make. No one wants a leaky gut. Just something to think about."
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism
JAMA. 2010;304(21):2389-2396.
December 8, 2010
http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/304/21/2389.abstract%22%20target=
"Context: Impaired mitochondrial function may influence processes highly dependent on energy, such as neurodevelopment, and contribute to autism. ....
Conclusion: In this exploratory study, children with autism were more likely to have mitochondrial dysfunction, mtDNA overreplication, and mtDNA deletions than typically developing children."
Autism Research: Breakthrough Discovery on the Causes of Autism
Posted: December 11, 2010 11:37 AM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/autism-research-discovery_b_794967.html
A study just published in The Journal of the American Medical Association by researchers from the University of California, Davis called "Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism" (i) discovered a profound and serious biological underpinning of autism -- an acquired loss of the ability to produce energy in the cells, damage to mitochondria (the energy factories in your cells), and an increase in oxidative stress (the same chemical reaction that causes cars to rust, apples to turn brown, fat to become rancid, and skin to wrinkle). These disturbances in energy metabolism were not due to genetic mutations, which is often seen in mitochondrial problems, but a condition the children studied acquired in utero or after birth.
See also:
http://www.rawpaleoforum.com/off-topic/autism-research
http://www.rawpaleoforum.com/hot-topics/autism-explained/msg43345/#msg43345
http://www.rawpaleoforum.com/hot-topics/autism-explained/msg43517/#msg43517
http://ancestrallifestyle.blogspot.com/search/label/autism
http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jan/31/food/fo-19029
A Little Known Yet Powerful Cause (And Treatment) for Childhood Autism [Glutathione]
from The Bulletproof Executive by Dave Asprey
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bulletproofexec/~3/mKdgWMgzJe4
By Emily Deans, M.D.
http://evolutionarypsychiatry.blogspot.com/2010/09/diet-and-autism-1.html
Excerpt: "What is autism, and what causes it? Well, there is no universal theory, no consistent genetic findings (though autism does seem to run in families sometimes), and no agreed upon biological mechanism for what causes autism (3). Some researchers feel it is a brain development problem. Others wonder if autism is a set of disorders similar to phenylketonuria (where an inability to metabolize a certain amino acid can lead to progressive mental retardation, brain damage, and seizures, but can be averted by not eating that amino acid, phenylalanine).
The whole idea that gluten-free casein-free diets might be useful for autism is based on theories that exorphins (protein fragments that act as opiates) from gluten and casein might make it through the intestinal barrier and go on to act on the brain, causing harm. A similar theory is at work in gluten-free diets and schizophrenia. One very interesting tidbit of information: kids with autism and their family members seem to have leakier guts than families without autism (4). (Here's a finding which makes the Harvard Mental Health Letter's statement that researchers are promoting "autism diets" with no scientific support, seem, well, cranky. To be fair, the largest and best gluten-free casein-free diet trial was published in April of 2010 too, and the leaky gut study I'm looking at is epublished ahead of print, meaning it doesn't seem to even be officially published yet.)"
Diet and Autism 2
http://evolutionarypsychiatry.blogspot.com/2010/09/diet-and-autism-2.html
Excerpt: "The take-away point? Once again, I think there is enough scientific evidence to suggest that some kids with ASDs will, in fact, benefit from a gluten-free, casein-free diet, and while it is no cure and may not be a part of the original cause (some known teratogens that cause autism seem to work at around 8 weeks gestation (7)), it may be worth a try. It shouldn't be attempted without some professional nutritional advice, especially in a picky kid. And it's clearly no holy grail.
Another point - gluten is (once again) creepy. Gliadin and zonulin do not a good combination make. No one wants a leaky gut. Just something to think about."
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism
JAMA. 2010;304(21):2389-2396.
December 8, 2010
http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/304/21/2389.abstract%22%20target=
"Context: Impaired mitochondrial function may influence processes highly dependent on energy, such as neurodevelopment, and contribute to autism. ....
Conclusion: In this exploratory study, children with autism were more likely to have mitochondrial dysfunction, mtDNA overreplication, and mtDNA deletions than typically developing children."
Autism Research: Breakthrough Discovery on the Causes of Autism
Posted: December 11, 2010 11:37 AM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/autism-research-discovery_b_794967.html
A study just published in The Journal of the American Medical Association by researchers from the University of California, Davis called "Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism" (i) discovered a profound and serious biological underpinning of autism -- an acquired loss of the ability to produce energy in the cells, damage to mitochondria (the energy factories in your cells), and an increase in oxidative stress (the same chemical reaction that causes cars to rust, apples to turn brown, fat to become rancid, and skin to wrinkle). These disturbances in energy metabolism were not due to genetic mutations, which is often seen in mitochondrial problems, but a condition the children studied acquired in utero or after birth.
See also:
http://www.rawpaleoforum.com/off-topic/autism-research
http://www.rawpaleoforum.com/hot-topics/autism-explained/msg43345/#msg43345
http://www.rawpaleoforum.com/hot-topics/autism-explained/msg43517/#msg43517
http://ancestrallifestyle.blogspot.com/search/label/autism
http://articles.latimes.com/2001/jan/31/food/fo-19029
A Little Known Yet Powerful Cause (And Treatment) for Childhood Autism [Glutathione]
from The Bulletproof Executive by Dave Asprey
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bulletproofexec/~3/mKdgWMgzJe4