Polly: Most of the adults at the healthyawareness forum are quite familiar with MSM, magnesium sulfate baths, TMG, and coenzyme B6. It turns out that these same substances are also quite well known on the autism lists. It is almost as if they came to the same conclusions by traveling down a different path. The people on the autism lists have been using high dose B6 with magnesium for some time, but they have recently started including coenzyme B6 in their treatments. (Dr. Tapan Audhya found very slow coenzyme B6 formation in autistics.) They have been employing DMSO, but many have now switched to MSM (also known as DMSO2), and lately are emphasizing sulfates. Just like the adults at the healthy-awareness forum have surmised, the people on the autism lists have also concluded that you must start with very low doses of MSM. For some of these autistic children, even low doses of MSM are too strong. They must start with Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate) baths. (Unfortunately, even these bathes are too strong for some children.)
The parents were employing DMG to improve the verbal ability of their autistic children, but now some are switching to TMG. Others find that TMG is too strong, and switch back to DMG. Parents also speak of antifungals, anti-virals, transfer factor, thyroid, magnesium, B12, folic acid, vitamin A, C, zinc, selenium, niacin, coenzyme B1 (TTFD), molybdenum, and coenzyme Q10. It is very similar to what is discussed at the healthy-awareness forum. I find Autism Interventions 13 it highly fascinating that some of the same supplements are coming to the forefront in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), autism, mercury toxicity, candidiasis, and in Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS). Why?
Shelley: Polly, now you are reading *my* mind. That has been my thought of the day. *Why* are the same supplements coming to the fore in these things? Can’t be just because they are the supplements du jour? OR¾are these things related….by? yeast? intertwined. Sometimes when I am on the amalgam list I almost forget we are not discussing candida. hmmmmmm…..The order of what to take when is the thing though…(lipoic acid after mercury amalgam removal, and B6 before antifungal…)
Polly: I believe you are right in that the order of treatment is very important. Nowhere else is it so apparent as with the autistic. They seem to be quite sensitive to what is tried first. Each is an individual, so there are no hard and fast rules here. What you use first depends to a large degree on what is tolerated. However, there are some general rules that may give a person some direction. Later, as the situation improves, more supplements will be tolerated.
Parents of autistic children are told to first try supplements of magnesium and B6 (or coenzyme B6). These have benefited the most children. If the B6 isn’t tolerated, then more magnesium might improve tolerance of B6. A little manganese should be given if a lot of magnesium is used.
A low sugar diet is important in order to keep the yeast and bacteria growth down. This diet should be started before antifungals are given. Otherwise, the antifungals may be too harsh and they likely won’t work. Like most everything, diet should be changed gradually. Some carbohydrates and sugars are needed in the diet. They are needed for the liver to work properly. (See book 4 on diet.) The gluten free and casein free diets help many, so these diets should be tried fairly early. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet is also turning out to be very helpful.
Mineral balancing should be attempted before most other treatments. It is often tolerated and it lays the foundation for many other interventions. Zinc supplementation seems to be very high on the list of priorities. 90% of the autistic have tested low in zinc. However, when a lot of zinc is supplemented, the progress must be monitored, because too much zinc can cause yeast overgrowth. Zinc and other minerals aren’t absorbed well if the stomach acid and pancreatic enzymes are low. So stomach acid and pancreatic enzymes must often be supplemented. (See book 2.) In order to get around the poor mineral absorption, many parents attempt giving the minerals through the skin. If you can get the zinc into the person, it should help restore stomach acid production and thus help with the restoration of other minerals too.
Copper is very often too high. It must be brought down by giving zinc, molybdenum, vitamin C and manganese. While a person is high in copper, they should NOT be given cysteine supplements; else it could make them very ill. (Supplements of glutathione might be a problem too because glutathione contains cysteine.)
Sulfur is often very low. It is very important because it helps improve the lining of the gut and it helps the liver. Yet, sulfur supplements may lower molybdenum, copper and zinc. All the minerals must be balanced for each child, possibly starting with those minerals that are the farthest outside normal range.
If the blood pressure is quite low, this is a strong indication of weak adrenals. More salt and water may help bring up the blood volume and pressure. A little cortisol will help the body retain Hope for Autism through Nutrition The Health Forum—Book 5 14 the salt. If adrenal support is needed, it should be started before thyroid supplements. Also, before starting thyroid, sometimes coenzyme B1, magnesium and/or vitamin D are needed in order to allow the body to tolerate the thyroid supplements. (See book 4 of the Health Forum for more information on hormone supplements.)
Vitamin A is very important for reducing the dysbiosis. The form of vitamin A most often employed is from cod liver oil. However, some children do better starting with primrose oil before they try the cod liver oil. Yet, many cannot tolerate either of these oils. If these oils are not tolerated, then one has to start with other forms of vitamin A, and first address the gut inflammation, electrolyte balance, hormones, magnesium deficiency, low sulfates, poor flora, etc. Later, the cod liver oil may be tolerated.
Methylation is poor in about 45% of the kids. If methylation is poor, then things like DMG or TMG should be started. (If methylation is high, these should not be used.) If methylation is at least adequate, then high dose B12 (either the methylcobalamin or hydroxycobalamin forms of B12) may be quite helpful. Coenzyme B1 is often given at the same time as the high dose B12. After the DMG, B12, coenzyme B1, and cod liver oil, then the kids might be ready for a supplement that increases acetylcholine.
Biotin is very important. However, it encourages the growth of some yeast. So, it probably shouldn’t be given until after the yeast level is lower. If biotin is given, inositol should also be given to help protect the liver. To use biotin properly, more pantethine may be needed.
Mercury chelation should be one of the last things attempted. The dysbiosis and body chemistry should be corrected as much as possible before starting on any type of mercury chelation. In particular, glutathione, vitamin C, coenzyme Q10 and selenium are needed to protect the neurological system during chelation. (A biological source of selenium should be better tolerated, like Bio-active selenium from Solaray.) CoQ10 is often low if there has been yeast overgrowth. (See discussion of the different types of CoQ10 in book 2 of the Health Forum.)
After DMSA has been used to reduce the body load of toxic metals, alpha lipoic acid is often added to assist in the removal of mercury from the brain. However, the alpha lipoic acid will deplete B12. So B12 should be increased before getting to this point in treatment. In general, as much as possible should be attempted to correct the body chemistry before starting chelation. (Book 6 is about chelation.)
Roula: I just thought I would share some great news about Jack. (Jack is 2 years 9 months old and is on the autistic spectrum.) I recently started him on B6, magnesium and zinc. His speech had started expanding just before with some new words, but once I introduced the B6, magnesium and zinc its just exploded!!
He is using 2 words together, “bottle milk”, “Nan’s house” “Bye-Bye Daddy see ya” (that’s 3!!). He is also pointing, turning to look at me saying “bear”, so some shared interest as well. Whilst at his Nan’s the other day we were playing chasing, when I told him to chase and catch me and HE DID!! Normally it has never really computed that he should chase too, you usually had to pull him along. After a few rounds, it seems he got bored and stopped short of me, I turned to see what was up and he says “oh-oh fall down” and proceeded to throw himself on the ground laughing!! Well I nearly died!!!
Then the icing on the cake, after battling to get him to leave Nan’s as we pull up our driveway, he throws his drink cup down and yells “go back Nan’s”. I had my first REAL parenting dilemma, he had expressed his want and I was soooo overjoyed, now how was I going say Autism Interventions 15 no…?? Well I didn’t…..I enticed him into the house with a treat! Whew!!
He has added at least 20 words in the last week and is attempting so many more as they come up. He is even singing words in songs. All in all, pretty miraculous! (even though he hasn’t said Mama yet…) Oh well, all in good time.