4 THE AUTISM FILE

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THE AUTISM FILE
The Gut
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Measles.
Epithelial damage.
Dysbiosis.
Inadequate enzyme function DPP-1V
enzyme deficiency.
Secretin success (suggesting pancreatic
dysfunction).
Reflux.
Gastritis.
Leaky gut.
Diarrhoea.
Constipation.
Parasitic and yeast infection.
Poor digestion of proteins and fats (85%
of autistics are malnourished).
Known deficiencies of sulphate.
Vitamin B deficiencies.
Zinc deficiency.
Magnesium deficiency.
Vitamin A deficiency.
Deficiencies in amino acids and essential
fatty acids, namely omega 3s (EPA and
DHA).
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The Immune System
Increased TH2 ratio making them more
susceptible to allergies and poor at
eradicating viral.
Fungal, bacterial and parasitic pathogens.
Auto-immune antibodies to myelin basic
protein.
Reduced Natural Killer cell function.
Increased pro-inflammatory cytokines
(TNF-a, IL-1b , IL-6).
Complement deficiencies (presence of
gram negative bacteria, parasites and
candida).
Atypical elevated antibodies to common
pathogens, eg herpes viruses 1 through to
7.
Epstein Barr.
Cytomegolovirus.
Mycoplasma.
T-Cell deficiencies including subsets
CD1,2,3,4,8,16,25 and 56.
These immunological changes affect brain
chemistry especially in the cerebellum and
sensory components of the brain and most
autistics have altered sensory perception.
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The Brain
Autoimmune antibodies to myelin basic protein (proteins that make up the sheath surrounding
the neurons).
Abnormalities in neurotransmitter levels, eg dopamine, serotonin, melatonin.
Elevated norepinephrine and epinephrine. Seizures.
Perfusion abnormalities within the brain, ie poor blood flow to some areas of the brain.
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The Blood
Hyper ammonemia.
Increased levels of undigested proteins.
Increased coagulation (aggregation of red blood cells) induced by lectins and inflammatory cytokine
expression.
Metallothionine deficiencies.
Phenosulphur transferase enzyme deficiencies or dysfunction leading to low plasma sulphate levels.
Purine metabolism defects increasing uric acid levels, blood toxaemia (elevated toxins in the blood
system).
Liver stress and its association with low levels of glutathione.
Carnitine deficiency affecting mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.
Increased nitric oxide which inhibits the Krebs cycle enzyme aconitase.
Other mitochondrial defects such as low levels of NADH, Co Enzyme Q10.
Increased levels of heavy metals namely cadmium, mercury, aluminium, lead and arsenic.
As one can see there are a great
number of known imbalances,
abnormalities and deficiencies
found in autism. These all lead
to a disturbed biochemistry
resulting in differing forms of
autism.
Many parents ask me what tests
and treatments have we done
for Billy. Billy like all others
suffering from autism is a
unique individual and therefore
we needed to conduct tests that
were specific to him. From the
early use of secretin we have
come a long way, using
diagnostic testing as a method
for evaluating any abnormalities
he has. This is imperative and I
urge all parents with autistic
children to complete a range of
tests that you feel are beneficial
to assess your child.
Where to start?
It is important not to rush into
conducting tests but to think
through the issues. Should the
tests be invasive or non invasive,
ie blood or stool, urine and hair?
Think through the cost
implications and whether the
abnormalities found can actually
be treated.
I hope you will find the
following steps helpful.
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Family history questionnaire
Look for problems already exhibited by parents and
grandparents and the causes behind the illnesses. Pay
particular notice of inflammatory disorders,
autoimmune disorders and allergies. The following
list contains some of the most common illnesses
found to be present in parents and grandparents:
rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, asthma, diabetes,
allergies, bowel disease, respiratory illness, psoriasis,
depression, heart disease, migraine, sinusitis, lupus,
chronic fatigue syndrome.
These illnesses can indicate a genetic predisposition
that may affect the immune system making a baby
vulnerable to immune insults.
Pregnancy
Look at your pregnancy and evaluate the following:
Treatments during pregnancy (especially anti-biotics).
How many amalgam fillings have you had.
Did you suffer from thrush or candidiasis?
Do you have allergies?
Did you experience food cravings during pregnancy?
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Birth
Was there a delayed delivery, ie baby
stressed during delivery or ‘trapped’ in
the birth canal.
Was there any possibility of blood
starvation during delivery?
What was the APTAR rating and were
there any concerns?
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Breast or bottle fed?
Treatments
What treatments were used and for
what conditions? Note everything
from Calpol, Nurofen for infants,
steroidal creams, or antibiotic use, eg
Amoxycillin, Cephalexin. This
information is extremely important –
you are entitled to obtain any relevant
data from your child’s General
Practitioner. You need to know the
course of treatment, when it was
given and for what reason. Did the
treatment work?
During the feeding did your child have
a good suck or was it weak? What sort
of milk formula was used, cows’ milk,
goat, soya, hypoallergenic, eg
Nutramigen?
Did your child suffer from colic, reflux,
vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea
during its first four months?
Vaccination
What vaccines did your child receive in
its first year, Vitamin K, TB, DPT, HIB,
polio at two, three and four months,
meningitis C and MMR?
Did you notice any reactions to these
vaccines, eg rashes, temperature,
listlessness, vomiting, diarrhoea etc?
Make notes.
Health and medical
history in first year
Was there evidence of eczema,
asthma, red ears, swollen abdomen,
diarrhoea/constipation, or glue ear?
Respiratory tract infections, eg
bronchitis, sinusitis?
Any known illnesses derived from viral
infections, eg chicken pox?
Did your child sit, hold head high,
crawl and walk on time?
Were there any concerns over motor
co-ordination skills?
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MMR vaccine
Was your child fit and healthy at the
time the MMR vaccine was given? Was
your child free from colds, runny nose,
at least four weeks after the last
course of antibiotics. Did your child
have eczema or asthma at the time?
Were his/her bowel movements
normal? Did your child react to the
vaccine immediately?
Did your child develop problems soon
after the vaccine, ie diarrhoea?
Did your child lose speech,
co-ordination, interaction skills etc
after the vaccine? What was the
health of your child like after the
MMR vaccine? Record this data for at
least four months including medical
treatment?
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First indications
When did you first notice there may
have been a problem with your child?
From birth?
From 2–6 months?
After the MMR vaccine?
At what age did you notice hearing
problems.
Poor eye contact.
Loss of language.
Answering these questions will also enable you to
look at the first 18 months of your child’s life and
the family history into which he/she was born
Next, I have listed the symptoms of autism under
the following headings: Gut functions, Immune
system, Allergic reactions, and General health. This
will give you an idea of where to start looking for
your child’s problems. Various tests are available on
the market and I have listed what I think are the
most important tests for each category. Each list
contains a number of symptoms followed by tests
that may give you some of the answers. For more
details of the testing organisations please se the
final chapter of The Autism File Book Issues 1–5.
Tests highlighted in bold are ones we have used
identify problems with our autistic son, Billy.
Physical coordination problems.
rapped in own world –
T
daydreaming.
Loss of pointing skills.
Irrational fears?
Repetitiveness.
Temper tantrums.
Aggression.
Impaired face recognition, eg
difficulty understanding emotions,
didn’t smile back at you.
Stimming behaviour?
Toe walking.
Difficulty eating.
Specific food selection in diet.
Abnormal sleep patterns.
Unprovoked crying.
Staring spells.
Uncontrolled bowel movements.
Excessive night sweats.
Pallor.
Puffy face.
Dark eye circles.
All of the above are associated with
autism and you need to identify when
these were being displayed by your
child in order to ascertain at what age
your child became autistic. I still
believe some autistic children were
born with this condition but I am also
very, very confident 85% acquired it.
Having identified what abnormalities,
deficiencies and dysfunctions are
present, you can now consider what
tests to conduct and what treatment
protocol must be put in place
thereafter.
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THE AUTISM FILE
Gut functions
1 Diarrhoea/constipation
2 Dysbiosis
3 Light coloured stools
4 Bloatedness
5 Excess wind
6 Red anus
7 Itchy anus
8 White coloured tongue
9 Bad breath
10 Undigested food in gut
11 Rapid passage of food through the gut.
12Ammonia smelling stools (bleaching or
colouring of pants)
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Reflux/gastritis
Abdominal pain
Dark eye circles
Leaky gut?
Overuse of antibiotic treatment.
Suggested tests
(1–12,14,17) Comprehensive Digestive
stool analysis with parasitology (Great
Smokies Laboratory). Indican (indicates
abnormal flora).
(15) D-Glucaric acid (toxic load and liver
stress), MDA (indicates free radical
pathology). Live Blood analysis. Observation
of blood to look for coagulation, candida
and parasites and other abnormalities
(ARTC). Organic acid test (ARTC or Great
Plains Laboratory).
(16) Intestinal Permeability (Sunderland
University, David O’Connell, ARTC).
Ammonia (ARTC)
Immune system
1 Eczema
2 Asthma
3 Fever
4 Night sweats
5 Pallor
6 Recurrent illness
7 Recurrent sore throats
8 Very sensitive to touch at base of neck
9 Ear problems
10 Cold hands and feet
11 Mucus in stool.
12Blood in stool.
Suggested tests
Blood coagulation tests and Live blood
analysis (ARTC).
IgM testing for ongoing infections, ie
Herpes 1 through to herpes 7. Epstein Barr
virus, Mycoplasma, Streptococcus,
Cytomeglovirus, Pro-inflammatory cytokines,
ie TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6 (The Doctors Laboratory
– contact Dr Malek).
CD8 and CD4 (ratio of Th1 and Th2 cells).
Immunoglobulins, Lymphocyte Evaluation
(David O’Connell).
IgM antibodies to MMR vaccine (David
O’Connell).
Autoimmune antibodies to Myelin Basic
Protein, antibodies to measles (Dr Vigindra
Singh).
(11,12) Severe gut-related disorders – seek
advice and testing from a gut enterologist
(Royal Free Hospital).
Allergic reactions
to foods
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Reactions to cows’ milk.
Red ears after eating.
Flushing in face.
Eczema.
Hyperactivity.
Running around in circles.
Tantrums.
Jekyll and Hyde moods.
Addicted to certain foods.
Nasal congestion.
Suggested tests
(All of the above). Food Allergy Panel
(96 foods, ARTC ). Brakespeare Hospital
(contact Dr Jean Monro specialists in allergy
testing and treatment).
General health
1 Low percentile rating for weight.
2 Signs of malnutrition.
3 Bloated abdomen
4 Ribs showing
5 Poor hair condition
6 White marks on fingernails
7 Brittle nails
8 Poor sleep patterns
9 Goose bumps on back of upper arms
10 Dry skin
11 Listlessness and general fatigue
12Excessive thirst
13Frequent urination
Suggested tests
(5,7,8,9,10,12,13) All can be tested for at
the ARTC.
(11 and general health) Heavy Metal test,
Essential Fatty Acid Test.
(7 and general health) Mineral analysis,
(8) Sulphate. Neurotransmitters. EGOT (test
for Vitamin B6 function).
(11) Ferritine. (General Health).
(General health) Vitamin profile, Trace
elements, Amino acid profile, Organic acid
test (Great Plains Lab or ARTC).
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Other alternative approaches to looking at General Health disorders may be uncovered by the BEST
System, Psionic hair analysis, Kinesiology etc. Once you have completed the tests the results will come back
with an interpretation of what abnormalities have been found and what forms of treatments are best
suited to your child. The directors of these establishments have promised their full co-operation with the
interpretations and will also be available for consultation if you have any questions or queries.
Billy’s treatment
We have worked very hard on getting Billy’s treatment protocol right for him and in order to
ascertain this we have completed the tests shown previously highlighted in bold. I shall now
summarise his overall treatment programme under the following headings. Please remember this is
individualised for Billy and I am in no way suggesting that this will work for your child but it is
merely an indication of what we have learned and what we are now doing.
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EDUCATION
SPEECH THERAPY.
BEHAVIOUR/SOCIAL INTERACTION
EXERCISE
BATHING
DIET
DRINK
Mainstream with 1–1 tutor.
1 hour per week.
Involvement with typical high functioning peers.
Minimum of 30 minutes per day of cardiovascular exercise, swimming, bike riding etc.
Hot, with Epsom salts. Fluoride free toothpaste.
Gluten/casein free. Chemical free, ie no MSG, colourings, preservatives, NO foods to which he is allergic.
Bottled water (Vittel). Rice drink.
Problem and treatment listing for Billy
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VITAMINS
TRACE ELEMENTS
AMINO ACIDS
ANTI-OXIDANTS/FREE RADICAL SCAVENGERS
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS (EFAs)
LIVER SUPPORT
METALS/MINERALS
Chromium, Manganese
IMMUNE MODULATION
Chisholm Labs
BLOOD COAGULATION AND
DIGESTIVE SUPPLEMENT
CHELATION OF HEAVY METALS
ANTI-FUNGAL
LEAKY GUT
ANTI PARASITIC
SULPHATE
ANTI INFLAMMATORY
GUT DYSBIOSIS
HAEMOGLOBIN
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Vitasorb b-complex, Multi vitamin/mineral complex, Vitamin-C, Vitamin A (cod liver oil)
Trace minerals
Seacure
l-Glutathione, Vit C
Eskimo-3, EYE-Q
Milk Thistle
Magnesium Taurate, Zinc, Selenium, Molybdenum, Ambrotose. Consider transfer factor from Super enzymes, Houston Enzymes
Cilandro, Chlorella, selenium. Consider DMSA
Amphotericin-B, Diflucan, Canditox 2
Enteroguard, L-Glutamine, Phyt Aloe
Citramesia
Epsom salts, Glucosamine sulphate, MSM
Evening Primrose, EFAs
Probiotics Bio cult, essential E-Coli
Floradix
The list for Billy’s treatment seems endless but we crush and
mix all of these in a bowl and provide either natural fruit
juice or a dash of maple syrup to help with its palatability. It
is still yuk, believe me. It generally equates to three dessert
spoons per day and he has it 30 minutes before his evening
meal. We very often ‘pulse’ the ingredients to his potion as I
believe providing the same supplements day in day out
overloads the receptors. I will miss out a few for three days
then reintroduce them on a rotational basis. This then gives
Billy time to utilise these supplements rather than excreting
the surplus.
Autism is a multifactorial disorder and we are treating only
those known problems found to be present in Billy through
our diagnostic testing. The aim in providing such an
extensive list of identified requirements is to restore
optimum health. As our children have a highly selective, self
limiting diet these nutritional requirements are essential for
providing the biochemical building blocks to restore normal
functioning.
Test, analyse, interpret and test, analyse, interpret again
before implementing your protocol. Seek advice and
direction from those in the know. We used a nutritionist, a
biochemist and two consultants before we formulated our
protocol. Prepare your protocols, based on your child’s
abnormalities with expert guidance.
Observe and monitor your child. Is he/she responding to the
treatment? Go low and slow with your supplements at first
and then build up the levels to the required dosage. Re-test
after three to four months to see if there has been an
improvement in your child’s health. We have worked very
hard on Billy’s testing and treatment protocols and I am
very happy with them now. Billy has made tremendous
improvements over the past three years due mainly to his
biological treatment protocol.
We are not entirely there yet but we shall succeed – there is
no doubt in my mind of that.
Please note that I am talking to you as a parent of an
autistic child – not a medical expert. So please, please seek
out the correct consultants, nutritionists, and doctors to
help you before you begin. I wish you all every success.
The Autism File book containing
issues 1 to 5 plus a directory of
schools and organisations relevant
to autism is now available to order
at a cost of:
UK £24.95 (includes p&p)
Overseas £31.95 (includes p&p).
Very limited copies are available –
please order by phone on:
020 8979 2525
You can also order on-line (www.
autismfile.com) or send in the slip
below.
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The Autism File book at £24.95 a
copy (£31.95 overseas).
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