Willis: To increase sulfate levels, certain sulfate containing substances may be ingested, such as glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and minerals in sulfate form—like zinc sulfate (may irritate sensitive stomachs), iron sulfate, and Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate).
Oral supplementation of sulfates may not be too successful, however. The best way is to take an Epsom salts bath (two cups or more in a tub of hot water). Soak it up through the skin for 20 minutes, and don’t rinse off-and don’t worry if the child drinks some of the water. This bath has been shown to increase sulfur content of the blood up to four times. (Start with less Epsom salts and a shorter bathtime to make sure the bath is tolerated.)
Be sure to filter chlorine and other poisons from the water you drink and bath in. Chlorine in bath water is breathed and absorbed, especially from hot water. This is important as chlorine is a deadly poison. It can produce fatigue and tiredness after the bath. I should mention that there is a small chance of magnesium toxicity with the baths. If there has been any indication that the child’s kidneys are not functioning fully (possibly high creatinine levels), check with your doctor before using magnesium (or potassium), and have him monitor magnesium and potassium levels. Strive for high normal levels.
SAMe is said to improve sulfoxidation, in fact, it is necessary to the manufacture of all sulfur-containing compounds in the body.
Jeff Bradstreet, MD, father of an autistic child, has this to offer:
“If the child has an unusual odor at night or their bedclothes do, or if they sweat while asleep (PST defect), use MSM 1500 to 3000 mgs per day. In the study, 83% of autistic children were PST abnormal, and MSM should help this. It did in our son’s situation.”
(Build up MSM dosages carefully and gradually. For some, sulfates may be a better choice. See the chapter on mercury poisoning for more about Epsom salt baths. Also see the chapter on MSM in Book 2 of this series.)
Molybdenum
Willis: The efficiency of the available PST enzymes can be enhanced by supplementing molybdenum and histidine. These are needed in the molybdenum-histidine containing enzymes, sulfite oxidase and cysteine dioxygenase that oxidize sulfur. Also important are iron, and the B-complex vitamins (especially niacin).
Oral sulfate or copper tends to deplete molybdenum, so molybdenum must be supplemented along with the sulfates. A coenzyme, vitamin B-complex supplement of moderate potency should be supplemented as well. One mother in supplementing molybdenum reports that her daughter, who was doing quite well, regressed into severe, autistic symptoms for three days, including 18 hours of screaming— possibly due to a detoxifying. Her doctor urged her to cease, but she stayed the course, and today her daughter is far and away better! This is serious stuff.
Incidentally, a gross deficiency of molybdenum manifests as tachycardia, headache, mental disturbances, and coma. An excess intake of 10-15 mg daily (for adults) can cause a gout like syndrome because of an elevated production of uric acid. Dosage range should not exceed 1 mg per day. Very little molybdenum is needed, but it is an important element in several important metalloenzymes (xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, and sulfite oxidase) that participate in crucial liver detoxification pathways.
Note: There is some more information about molybdenum in the chapter on vitamins and minerals in Book 2.