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There
are numerous supplements that are being used to treat our children. Some
have excellent evidence in the literature of benefit, like magnesium and
omega-3 fatty acids. Other supplements have more anecdotal evidence from
parents that are willing to try new supplements in the hope that they
will have some benefit.
This section is
intended to list those supplements which have been shown to be of
benefit, however if the child regresses, often it may indicate an
underlying biochemical abnormality which may need additional factors to
help correct the imbalance. Sometimes parents see a
deterioration of symptoms before there is an improvement with a
particular supplement. This is useful to know so that parents 1)
know what to expect, 2) persevere through the initial regression, 3)
know how long to expect to see results and when it is time to stop, and
4) know what type of adverse symptoms other parents have experienced.
There is nothing scarier for a parent than to see your child
regress on a supplement. This is similar to parents going on a
gluten/casein free, or low oxalate diet and seeing a deterioration in
behaviour initially, during the withdrawal period, before their child
begins to improve.
This is certainly not a
complete list and I will be progressively updating the list as time
allows.
Use ARI's
database to find possible treatments for your child 
Warning!
Please
consult a practitioner familiar with supplementing ASD children. There
are appropriate dosages that need to be determined, or co-factors
than may need to be added. Some children may regress on a supplement, an
experienced practitioner will know whether this is transient or a
negative reaction to the supplement.
Vitamin
B6
Benefit
Hyperactivity,
aggression
Benefit
should be seen within 6 weeks
Possible
Adverse Reactions
Sound
sensitivity, irritability, enuresis (bedwetting)
Options
Additional
Magnesium
May
need a different form of B6 (i.e. P-5-P) or a mix
Divide
the dose and give more frequently
Wrong
dosage being used
May
be an issue with oxalates
May
ba a phenol sulphur-transferase defect
Dimethylglycine
(DMG)
Benefit
Behaviour,
speech, eye contact, improvement in seizures
Benefit
should be seen within a week, although should trial for up to a month
Possible
Adverse Reactions
Increased
hyperactivity, sleep disturbance
Options
Additional
folic acid required
If
sleep disturbance - take DMG at the beginning of the day
May
indicate a methylation problem
For
More Information On DMG
DMG
Monograph:
http://www.dmgdoctor.com/dmg.php
Omega-3
Benefit
Hyperactivity,
mood, speech. Are crucial for neurological development, essential for
brain development (50% content of brain), facilitate neural
transmission, cell membrane structure, regulate inflammation, crucial to
assimilate other nutrients and help colonize friendly bacteria in the
gut, and many more functions.
Possible
Adverse Reactions
Hyperactivity
- especially if a flavoured product is used
There
has been some concern about the amine content of fish oils in amine
sensitive children. I am not convinced that at the dosages given this is
a problem and the problem is more likely to be the quality of the
supplement being used.
Options
Unflavoured
supplement - may be reacting to the flavouring
Start
at a lower dose
If
aggression is an issue may need to supplement omega-6 first
Cod
Liver Oil (CLO)
May
help reconnect the retinoid receptors critical for vision, sensory
perception, language processing and attention.
Benefit
Sideways glance (Nordic naturals CLO is best for eye
issues), hyperactivity, mood. CLO is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids and
vitamins A and D providing substantial benefit in ASD children.
Possible
Adverse Reactions
If
behaviour becomes worse or there is increased thirst, this may indicate
that there is a fatty acid imbalance.
Options
If
there is and adverse reaction, omega-6 may need to be supplemented first
with borage, evening primrose or blackcurrent oil.
Trimethylglycine
(TMG)
Benefit
Improved
speech, better eye contact, reduced frustration, better sleep, better
bile flow, increased levels of glutathione, and boosts immune function.
Teeth grinding
Possible Adverse
Reactions
Behaviour
becomes worse
Options
Additional
B6, folate and B12
May
indicate that they are low in cysteine, taurine and glutathione
For
More Information on TMG
TMG
Monographs:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_2_8/ai_103194443
http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/canada/healthinformation/encyclopedias/Betaine.asp
Zinc
Benefit
Zinc
generally helps with many of the autistic symptoms as it is vital for
the proper functioning of enzymes, and a co-factor in numerous
biochemical pathways, including neurotransmitters.
Possible Adverse
Reactions
Hyperactivity,
worse mood, crying for no apparent reason, increased stimming, stomach
cramping, bedwetting
Options
Wrong
dose being used
Some
sleep issues and bedwetting reported if given at night, give in the
morning
May
need to use a different form of zinc (i.e. chelate, picolinate)
Possibly
a zinc cream or transdermal patch may be a better option
Glutamine
Benefit
Glutamine
is a precursor to the inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, which exerts a
calming action. There is considerable evidence that glutamine can help
repair and enhance the mucosal barrier function of the gut. L-glutamine
can also reduce blood and brain ammonia levels. Glutamine may be low in
some ASD children, especially if there is an aversion to meat.
Taurine
Taurine
is a sulphur containing amino acid, important in the production of bile
salts. It also acts as an antioxidant, helps in detoxification, and is
reported to have an anti-opiod effect.
Benefit
Especially
of benefit if stools are light in colour, soft, frothy and foul
smelling. Some parents report a calming effect and less screaming.
Carnitine
The
primary function of carnitine is to help with energy metabolism in
mitochondria. It helps to increase energy levels.
Benefit
Often
useful when there is low muscle tone or lack of energy.
Vitamin
C
Benefit
Vitamin
C helps with detoxification and boosts glutathione which is important in
heavy metal detoxification.
Possible Adverse
Reactions
If
vitamin C is not tolerated, this may be due to the fillers or additives
in the product or possibly an issue with oxalates.
ARI's
Biomedical Survey Analysis Tool Online
Since
1967, the Autism Research Institute (ARI) has distributed surveys to
parents to determine which treatments are most beneficial, as well as
most harmful, to individuals with autism. ARI recently developed an
Internet program that allows parents to utilize our treatment database
survey, the largest in the world, to help determine which treatments to
consider trying (or possibly avoiding) for their children. In this
program, a parent first rates how his/her child responded to 1-4
treatments in the past. The program then searches ARI's treatment
database (more than 25,000 records), summarizing how children who
responded to the same treatment(s) responded to other treatments.
For
example: if a child responded well to melatonin, the program will
provide a list of additional treatments that benefited children who also
responded well to melatonin. There
is no charge to use this program up to May 2008. Read more: Medigenesis
For
advice or to book a consultation for your child with an experienced
practitioner, call
(03) 8802 7687 or
email
me.
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