Nowadays parents have genuine reason to be worried about a frightening disease whose cause is not known—autism. There is no telling whose young child will be next. Childhood autism is now found in about 1 in 150 children displaying a range of behaviors, including inability to socialize or expressing themselves. Could this disease too be linked to silent inflammation as a result of environmental causes like radiation, toxins and pesticides? The causes of autism remain under investigation with no clear data at the present time to identify the reasons that some children suffer from the disorder. Parts 1 & 2 of the article look at possible causes, and Part 3 & 4 will try to provide some basic common sense approaches to help a child with autism. Excerpt from "New Prescription for Childhood Obesity"

Post-Natal Environment
A wide variety of postnatal contributors to autism have been proposed, including gastrointestinal or immune system abnormalities, allergies, poor diet, and exposure of children to certain drugs, vaccines, infectious agents, certain foods, or heavy metals. The evidence for these risk factors is anecdotal and need double blind studies for confirmation. Below, I will discuss some of the most important ones.

Pesticides:
A study by the California Department of Public Health in 2007 found that women in the first eight weeks of pregnancy whose residences were near farm fields sprayed with organochlorine pesticides, such as dicofol and endosulfan have increased risk of giving birth to children with autism. The autism-link appeared to increase with dosage of pesticides and decreased with distance from farm fields to residential sites. The study suggested that approximately 7% of autism cases in the California Central Valley area might have been caused by exposure to insecticides drifting from near farm fields into residential areas. These studies have not been confirmed by other studies, and due to the small number of women and children involved it’s at best preliminary results.

Another study conducted in 2005 found indirect evidence that prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides such as diazinon and chlorpyrifos may cause autism in genetically predisposed children. Several other studies have also demonstrated that these pesticides can be toxic to developing brain cells even at relatively low exposure levels.

Vitamin D Deficiency:
There is some evidence that autism is linked to immune deficiency. Autistic individuals often have other physical issues related to immune deficiency. There are scientific claims of effective treatments of autism based on boosting the immune system that seems promising. Vitamin D comes mainly from sunlight and fish or fish oils. The active form of vitamin D is a powerful immune system modulator. Most cells of the body immune system, including antibodies have vitamin D receptor sites that are activated or deactivated by vitamin D – thereby controlling their biological actions. There is now overwhelming scientific evidence to support the theory that the activated vitamin D has a powerful effect on the immune system, promoting inherent immunity and suppressing the development of autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis.

Do Vaccines Cause Autism?
There are two theories that connect vaccines to autism. The first theory suggests that the Mumps-Measles-Rubella (MMR) vaccine may cause intestinal disorder that may allow antigens to pass from food into the bloodstream and then contribute to brain dysfunction leading to the development of autism. The second theory suggests that a mercury-based preservative called thimerosal, used in some vaccines, could be the culprit causing autism.

The question whether MMR causes autism was first raised in 1998. But all the evidence thus far suggests that MMR does not cause autism.

Here are some useful tips you can use to prevent or fight childhood autism:

Diet & Nutrition Maybe a Major Factor

Food Allergies:
There is compelling evidence that allergies to certain foods could contribute to autism. The strongest direct evidence of foods linked to autism involves gluten (a wheat product) and cassein (a dairy product). These proteins (gluten and casein) are difficult to digest and, especially if introduced very early in life, may trigger an allergy. Peptides, which are small fragments of these proteins, can act directly in the brain by mimicking the body’s own natural opioids (such as endorphins or the enkephalins). The peptides, also called exorphins can neutralize the enzymes that breakdown these naturally occurring compounds.

As a result, there is an increase in opioid activity leading to many autistic symptoms. Researchers have found increased levels of these exorphins peptides in the blood and urine of children with autism. Exorphins peptides are derived from partially digested proteins, particularly food containing gluten and casein. For example, an exorphins peptide called IAG that is derived from gluten in wheat, has been found in 80 percent of autistic patients. Some experts believe that a deficiency of zinc and vitamin B6, which are essential for proper stomach acid production and protein digestion, may contribute to the poor digestion of proteins – leading to incompletely digested peptides or exorphins peptides that mimic the body’s own natural opioids.

Support for this hypothesis has come from many anecdotal reports of dramatic improvements in children with autism when casein (the protein in milk) and gluten (the protein in wheat, oats, barley, and rye) were removed from their diets. Dr Robert Cade, professor of medicine and physiology at the University of Florida, who developed Gatorade, observed that as levels of exorphins peptides in the blood decrease to normal range, the symptoms of autism dramatically improve.

It’s recommended that you withdraw foods gradually, such as waiting three weeks after the removal of dairy foods (casein) before removing wheat, oats, barley and rye (gluten) from the diet. Also, you’ll have to ensure that you replaced the foods you cut out with other foods containing valuable nutrients. As you withdraw foods, your child symptoms will get worse initially because of ‘withdrawal’.

It’s helpful to keep a food diary and note your child’s progress and symptoms. This can help to identify other foods the child may be sensitive to – citrus fruits, avocados, tomatoes, red peppers, corn, soy, chocolate, artificial food colorings, salicylates, and eggs.

Digestive Problems?
Many parents of autistic children have reported that their children were treated with repeated or prolonged courses of potent antibiotic drugs for ear or other respiratory infections during their first year. The children received the treatments before their diagnosis of autism. The over use of broad-spectrum antibiotics is a double-edge sword. They kill benign as well as harmful bacteria in the digestive track, which could weaken or damage the intestinal membranes. This is believed to cause a gastrointestinal disturbance known as “leaky gut syndrome”. Large incompletely digested molecules that shouldn’t be absorbed through the intestinal membranes do get through into the bloodstream. In a study of 60 autistic children with gastrointestinal symptoms, over 90 percent of them had chronically inflamed guts as a result of bacterial infection.

Drawing from these findings, there are basic and simple things you can do to help your child who has autism. First and foremost, you should make sure that your child has a healthy digestive track: by supplementing digestive enzymes with probiotics to restore the balance of healthy digestive track bacteria. Also provide sufficient fiber in order to keep the digestive system running smoothly. These measures can help heal the digestive tract and promote normal absorption, and elimination of toxic inflammatory molecules.

Abnormal Glucose Metabolism:
Children who have autism and those with ADHD or hyperactivity have something in common: abnormal glucose metabolism. In both cases, children who show signs of hyperactivity, regulating blood sugar can be highly beneficial. Many dietary studies have consistently shown that hyperactive children eat more refined sugar than other children. A study involving 265 hyperactive children found that more than 75 percent of them displayed abnormal glucose tolerance. This means that their bodies were less sensitive to sugar intake and therefore could not maintain a balanced blood sugar levels.

As discussed previously, elevated blood sugar level can spike insulin levels triggering damaging free radicals, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Elevated blood sugar can also interact with proteins, perhaps, even the exorphins peptides, and produce glycated molecules that damage blood vessels and nerves, including brain cells.

Furthermore, when a child is regularly snacking on refined carbohydrates, such as sweets, chocolate, sodas and juices, they risk spiking blood sugar and insulin levels, especially if there is insufficient fiber to slow down food absorption. The levels of glucose in their blood will be erratic triggering unpredictable fluctuations in their concentration, focus, hunger, craving, activity and behavior. All of these are not very helpful for a child with autism or ADHD. It’s difficult for a child to be in control or function under these circumstances.

Deficiency of Omega-3 Fatty Acids--It's Essential in Brain Development:
Scientists are noting deficiencies in essential fatty acids in children with autism. Research has shown that some autistic children have a defective enzyme that removes essential fatty acids from brain cell membranes faster than normal. Consequently, autistic children are more likely to need a higher dosage of essential fatty acids than average children. Supplementing with Omega-3 fatty acids shows clinically improved behavior, mood, focus and concentration, spontaneous speech, imagination and thought process, and sleep patterns. Omega-3 fatty acids work by slowing the activity of the defective enzyme, thereby, allowing a much substantial buildup of the essential fats in brain tissues.

Not eating fish or having enough Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet can adversely affect your baby’s brain development during pregnancy. The severity of the problem can range from behavioral to learning difficulties and depression. This is one major reason why eating healthy when you are pregnant is important and should be a primary focus. The early development and shaping of your baby’s brain before he or she is born depends on the availability of the proper types of fat. The brain’s gray matter is about 60 percent fat, of which roughly one-third is DHA – an Omega-3 fatty acids. DHA is used by the brain to build its basic structure and, hence, is vital for normal brain development, as well as for mental well being.

The baby’s only source of DHA during pregnancy is you, the mother. The developing fetus gets adequate supply of these essential fatty acids when you eat fish, flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, dark green leafy vegetables, and nuts like walnuts. It is so important that the developing fetus will go to any length to get it from you. For example, if you are not eating enough fish or getting Omega-3 fatty acids from other dietary sources, the baby will get it directly from your own stores (such as the gray matter of the brain). This could deplete your own DHA and could set the stage for postpartum depression and other serious emotional disorders. Some studies have shown that the rates of postpartum depression are 50 times greater in countries where women don’t eat fish.

The brain of a child that is severely deficient in Omega-3 fatty acids is poorly developed. This damage could persist through childhood and adult life. In a landmark study, Japanese researchers raised the possibility “that a relative Omega-3 deficiency may be affecting the behavioral pattern of a proportion of the young generations in industrialized countries.”

This unfortunate and ugly circumstance can be prevented. You could give your child a better fighting chance if during your pregnancy you eat foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. At the same time, you should cut back on animal fats and processed foods that are high in unhealthy fats. You can also use supplements if your dietary sources are not enough to meet your daily requirement (fish oil capsules, 1000 mg 3 times a day, or flaxseed oil 1 tbsp 1-2 times a day). Consult with your physician before using any supplements during pregnancy and lactation.
Watch for Part 3 next week.
Author of New Prescription for Childhood Obesity---Buy Now.