ALL NATURAL ADVANTAGE
Natural Healthcare and Education
|
ALL NATURAL ADVANTAGE Natural Healthcare and Education |
|
|
Scientists Warns 'No-Phenol' Digestive Enzymes 'Dangerous' Autism Treatment Enzymes, amino acids and phenol in autism [The giving of digestive enzymes that purport to mediate the effects of gluten and casein in the diet of one's autistic child is the current trend du jour in the autism community by many parents. This is readily witnessed by the mercurial rise of enzymes and autism oriented email groups on the Internet, replacing the spot once enjoyed by secretin. Dr. Jon Pangborn is an early creator of such products, now being marketed by Kirkman Labs, Klaire Labs and a newer company, Houston Labs. In a commentary in the current Autism Research Review International, Pangborn issues a warning on the risks of a new "enzyme supplement that destroys all dietary phenols" - the kind recently introduced by Houston Labs, apparently. Dietary
supplements are not government regulated. The consumer relies on a company's
reputation, and the word-of-mouth endorsements of other consumers to gauge
product safety and efficacy. So,
especially in such an environment of lesser science, dire warnings issued by an
industry scientist must be taken seriously, and so this one is presented here. In
an article in the same publication that accompanies this warning entitled
"Autism, digestive enzymes, the Internet, and fraud", Dr. Bernard
Rimland, founder of the Autism Research Institute and the DAN! Conferences goes
into detail on the unseemly underside of this business. Excerpts of that expose
appear following this article. Immediately below is the full text of Dr.
Pangborn's warning and contains technical language. FEAT has no independent
means for evaluating this warning, nor the comments made by Dr. Rimland
following. The material is reproduced here without endorsement, as clippings for
the readers' information only. -LS] One
purpose for providing special digestive enzymes is to aid the complete breakdown
of dietary proteins and peptides into single, free-form amino acids. An
objective is to reduce or nearly eliminate harmful peptides that can act as
false neurotransmitters and disregulators of immune response. For this
objective, both dietary restrictions and enzyme supplementation are advisable. Free-form
amino acids can be easily absorbed and utilized in body tissues. Each then has
work to do in the body. The amino acid tyrosine is needed for formation of
thyroglobulin, catecholamines hormones (dopamine, noradrenalin), melanin pigment
molecules, and other essential metabolites. When tyrosine is deficient, thyroid
functions, mood, behavior and attitude can be affected as can rest and sleep
patterns and cognitive abilities. Tyrosine
is a phenol; simply stated, it is phenol-alanine (4-hydroxyphenylalanine). While
some phenols, such as pentachlorophenol, can inhibit sulfation, other phenol
molecules, especially tyrosine, are essential to human life. In this author's
opinion, it is absolutely wrong to provide an enzyme supplement that destroys
all dietary phenols. A "no-phenol regimen" invites metabolic disorder,
especially for individuals who may have problems with tyrosine adequacy. Many
autistics do seem to have a problem in this area. They do not make enough
tyrosine from its essential precursor, phenylalanine, and they then depend much
more heavily on dietary tyrosine. In fact, individuals with disordered
phenylalanine metabolism and deficient tyrosine were among the first to have a
metabolic explanation for their autism. A product that destroys the phenol
tyrosine is certain to be harmful or dangerous to such individuals. I
emphatically urge that any such product not be used for human consumption. -Jon
Pangborn, Ph.D., F.A.I.C.
|
|
Disclaimer This website has no financial connection to the supplement or health products industry. The information on this website is provided as a guide to your healthcare options only. The All Natural Advantage website makes no statements, representations or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of, and should not be relied on as a sole source of information. We take no responsibility or liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for any expenses, losses, damages or costs you might incur as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason including but not limited to, you deciding whether or not to choose specific treatment based on the information. Please contact me or another qualified health professional before embarking on any health treatment program
Send mail to All Natural Advantage
with questions or comments about this web site.
|
