Alison Odey

Autism is a developmental disorder characterised by disturbance in language,
perception and socialisation. There is a failure to relate to people and
situations and the person appears to have difficulty making sense of incoming
information. There may be a tendency to repetitious movement (rocking or
clapping for example) or an inappropriate focus on detail. There can be
withdrawal from a world that appears frightening or unreasonable tantrums.

Although autism appears to have some genetic links there is recent evidence
to suggest that this may be triggered by some type of environmental influence,
which could possibly be either a cerebral allergic reaction or a chemical sensitivity that impairs brain metabolism.

Studies have shown that children with autism have low levels of Glutathione which researchers attribute to abnormalities in their methionine pathway.
Glutathione plays a key role in detoxification, having the ability to bind to heavy metals and other toxins through its sulphur molecules, thereby providing the means for the body to eliminate these toxins.
Having a deficiency of glutathione is a precursor for one’s inability to effectively excrete mercury, aluminium, and pesticides from the body.
A deficiency of glutathione is first noticed in the nervous system with a lack of co-ordination, tremors, mental disorders, and body balance, all caused by lesions in the brain.
See page on Glutathione.

Taurine has also been found to be the most depleted amino acid in the urine of Autistic children.

It has also been hypothesised that incomplete digestion of casein in milk
products and gluten in wheat products may result in the formation of proteins
fragments (ezophins) that may mimic opiate (like hormones and neurotransmitters
used by the brain) resulting in a scrambling of sensory input and processing.

I have been asked where the connection between autism and the hormone secretin occurs, and whether supplementation with secretin would help someone with Autism.
Secretin is hormone produced by the duodenum and jejunum portions of the
intestine when acidic chyme (partially digested food) enters the intestine. It
stimulates the secretion of pancreatic juices. If the stomach is not able to
acidify food sufficiently to stimulate the production of secretin then the maldigestion of proteins can occur. I presume this is where the connection could occur.

I know of no natural product in which secretin is specifically found, my suggestion would be to use a food enzyme product that contains pancreatic enzymes (protease, amylase, lipase).
I usually recommend a product which is entirely plant derived, contains an effective amount of digestive enzymes and are extremely well tolerated.

It would also be appropriate to check for :
– food intolerances, both dairy and gluten. Remove from the diet OR use food enzymes as mentioned above if food intolerances are suspected.
– improve liver detoxification. Glutathione could be appropriate here.
– increase anti-oxidant intake. NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinuclotide) is known to help brain activity.
– try supplements that increase brain energy.  Co enzyme Q10 may help here.
All the above are available on the on-line shop.

I have had reports back from parents of Autistic children that supplementing with Colloidal minerals has helped their child’s interaction with other people.