Medical and therapy interventions

What are the medical and therapy interventions? Describe each intervention and it’s expected outcomes, as well as potential side effects.

Many people are familiar with DAN! Diet (Defeat Autism Now).  There is a summary of their protocol in which I am quoting from http://www.autisticsociety.org/News/article/sid=541.html:

“The DAN (Defeat Autism Now) Protocol involves a combination of changes to the diet and implementation of vitamin supplement therapy as a means of producing changes in autistic behaviors. These changes include the following steps, according to published information.

1. Eliminate dairy products. The introduction of casein free diet appears to be primary in the treatment of autism by means of this protocol. Instead of cow's milk, substitute rice or soy milk or use Vitamite (chocolate) as a replacement.

2. Eliminate cereal grain products. Gluten has been shown to aggravate the digestive systems of individuals and with the known bowel involvement found in children on the autism spectrum, this action helps to relieve these problems. Instead substitute rice or another product for the gluten containing wheat.

3. Eliminate junk foods and other food products that contain refined sugars. These are not necessary to good health and in fact have been shown to be harmful, due to their chemical composition and the artificial additives that are included in many of them. A "natural" source of sugar, such as fruit offers a much better alternative.

4. Supplement the diet with the vitamin and mineral therapy. Below is a list of the supplements and their dosages which are recommended:

Calcium: 300 mg twice a day. This can be done in two doses, or once at bedtime to facilitate sleep.
Magnesium: 50 mg twice a day
Vitamin C: 50 mg twice a day
Vitamin B5: (Pantothenic Acid) 500 mg twice a day
Vitamin B6: 100 mg twice a day
1 multiple vitamin daily
DMG: 125 mg twice a day
Pycnogenol: 50 mg twice a day
Gaba: 75 mg twice a day

If your child is currently taking any medications especially those such as Prozac or Ritalin, it is recommended that you discontinue use before beginning Secretin infusions.” (http://www.autisticsociety.org/News/article/sid=541.html)

I believe the first three have been discussed in earlier post.  All the supplements are necessary, as children with autism usually have deficiencies or mal-absorption in these vitamins and minerals. 

   GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter which helps to regulate firing of neurons.  This helps to slow things down like hypertonia and the ability to slow/stop thinking and moving. (http://www.gabasupplement.com/)

   Pycnogenol is a natural extract from a bark of a maritime pine tree grown in southern France.  It is an antioxidant, acts like a natural anti-inflammatory, selectively binds to collagen and elastin and aids in the production of endothelial nitric oxide, which helps to dilate and strengthen blood vessels.  There is one article that reports it may decrease hyperactivity and increase attention in ADHD children (June 17 edition of the journal of European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) (http://www.pycnogenol.com/health/health_faq.php)

   DMG  is a metabolic enhancer and helps the immune system and enhance neurotransmitter production (http://www.dmgdoctor.com/dmg.php) It has been reported to show improvements in speech, eye contact and improved frustration tolerance (http://www.healing-arts.org/children/nutritional.htm).

   Vitamin B6 research showed that children with autism excreted abnormal metabolites in their urine which was cleared up with vitamin B6.  Given in large quantities with magnesium showed improved behavior of improved eye contact, less stimulatory behavior, fewer tantrums and improved speech. (http://legacy.autism.com/ari/editorials/ed_vitb6.htm)

   Magnesium is usually deficient and mal-absorbed, it is associated with lung function and a deficiency can accentuate the allergic situation.  Signs of low magnesium in children with autism include “restless, can’t keep still, body rocking, grinding teeth, hiccups, noise sensitive, poor attention span, poor concentration, irritable, aggressive, ready to explode and easily stressed.” Some reasons why magnesium is deficient is because food as less mineral content, leaky gut syndrome, oral supplements are not easily absorbed.  Magnesium helps maintain potassium, which is needed for the sodium-potassium pump. (http://magnesiumforlife.com/medical-application/magnesium-and-autism/)

   Calcium is important especially if the child is on a casein free diet.  It is beneficial for twitching during sleep.

Other forms of treatment include:

   Aloe Vera taken in a liquid form is to help food digest better and behavior improves.  If taken before a meal it may prevent leaky gut. (http://www.healing-arts.org/children/nutritional.htm)

Flower of Sulphur is suppose to return the ph balance in the stomach so foods are digested better. (http://www.healing-arts.org/children/nutritional.htm)

   Secretin is a hormone that mostly benefits digestion and has shown improved behaviors in children with autism.  It is newly researched and unknown at this time why it shows improvements.  One theory is that secretin stimulates the pituitary adenylate cyclase which increases intracellular camp in parts of the brain.  Secretin may lower the camp brought about by opioids as in the leaky gut theory. (http://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releases/secretin.cfm)

   Probiotics have shown improvements in helping with irritability in infants, and improvement in diarrhea. (Kligler 2007)
There are many other vitamins and minerals that are included in treatment but had limited research and is exhaustive and is not included in this blog.

Since the body is a delicate balance, disturbing this balance can cause more problems. The critical metabolic and nutritive functions of the gut flora include digestion, absorption, fermentation, vitamin synthesis, biotransformation, and energy production. Various diets that eliminate a food source can cause mal-nutrition.  High dosages of vitamin and minerals may cause other vitamins to not be effective.  It may also cause toxicity in the body.  Even if a person has a “well balanced diet”, their body may not be absorbing the vitamins and minerals to benefit the body.  Decreasing gluten or having a "white colored food diet"  may increase constipation since you are eliminating many sources of fiber.  As I researched this topic, I was amazed at the amount of information available and how overwhelming it may be to a parent.  Many of the websites (not research based) have a ”how to do” approach with very little claims to seek professional help.  I feel that many of these therapies/interventions may be helpful but is best done with blood/urine test rather than a trial and error.  A trial and error approach can completely disrupt a body’s system and cause major impact.
 

Buie, T., Fuchs, G., Furuta, G.T., Kooros, K., Levy, J., Lewis, J., Wershill, B., Winter, H., (2010) Recommendatins for evaluatin and treatment of common gastrointestinal problems in children with ASDs, Pediatrics 125, S19-S29

Kligler, B., Hanaway, P., Cohrssen, A. (2007) Probiotics in Children Pediatric Clinics of North America 54 949-967

http://www.autism.com/pro_gastro.asp

http://www.autisticsociety.org/News/article/sid=541.html

http://www.dmgdoctor.com/dmg.php

http://www.gabasupplement.com/

http://www.healing-arts.org/children/nutritional.htm

http://legacy.autism.com/ari/editorials/ed_vitb6.htm

http://magnesiumforlife.com/medical-application/magnesium-and-autism/

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releases/secretin.cfm

(http://www.pycnogenol.com/health/health_faq.php)