This month I thought I would write about some exciting research that has been coming out lately in the field regarding children with autism. I was inspired to write about this topic since my mom is always reading up on more alternative health approaches for treatment. As a scientist-practitioner myself, I value a lot of what is available in alternative treatments and feel that there can be much to be gained, but do think you have to be a thoughtful consumer. Basically, there is a lot of noise out in the world about what may or may not be helpful to people with different levels of support or research to back it up and a lot of parents who want what is best for their children who are willing to go to great lengths for their children so I am always really cautious about what I recommend or endorse. With that being said...here are a couple exciting findings in the field of alternative health that could make sense to discuss with your care providers to see if they might make sense for your child.
1. Potential Benefit of A-acetylcysteine (NAC)
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 12-week duration was completed on young children with autism. Participants in the study were mostly boys (31 with 2 girl participants as well) from the ages of 3 to 10. The children all had stable care providers and medications with no planned changes during the 12 week study and had never had a trial of NAC or were currently taking other antioxidants or glutathione prodrugs. NAC was given at 900 mg per day for the first 4 weeks, 900 mg twice per day for the next 4 weeks, then 900 mg three time per day for the final four weeks (or as tolerated).
"Primary Outcomes: NAC treatment showed significant improvement in ABC irritability subscales over placebo (P<0.001). Improvement was evident at week 4 and increased through week 12. Children also showed a trend toward significance in less stereotypic/repetitive behavior. Minimal adverse effects were observed with the exception of 1 participant whose symptoms worsened."
"This study is of potential clinical relevance for treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and other mental health issues. Two theories that have been presented as to why NAC may have clinical benefit in ASD are its effect on glutamatergic neural pathways and its use as an antioxidant... NAC has shown clinical benefit in ASD, as well as other mental health issues, including depression, OCD, and addiction. Whether as an antioxidant or by manipulating glutamate, it seems to be able to help balance neurotransmitter levels. It can improve symptoms of irritability, depressed mood, and impulsivity. Given its very low potential for side effects, NAC could be a useful adjunct to other therapies for these conditions." [1]
Though, this study had a small sample size it was very well designed with families and researchers not knowing who was receiving NAC versus a placebo, which really increases the importance of the results found.
2. Taking Probiotics to Potentially Reduce Signs of Autism
Dr. David Williams is a big proponent of taking probiotics. He cites the same study I cited above and then goes on to talk about how antibiotic use, sterilized foods, chlorinated water supplies, and other factors have greatly affected the population's intestinal bacterial flora into disarray.
"Animal studies have shown probiotics can help reduce the signs of autism. Young animals infected with fragments of the flu virus exhibited the same signs of autism: limited interaction with others, difficulty communicating, and repetitive and compulsive disorder. And in every case, they were found to have a permeable gut wall also called a 'leaky gut.' This occurs when there's a lack of beneficial, protective bacteria in the intestinal tract. Researchers found that, by administering probiotics and changing the ecology of the intestine, they could return the normal bacterial flora and negate the signs of autism." In addition, researchers at Colombia University have found distinctive differences in the microorganisms in the guts of autistic children compared to non-autistic children {MBio 2012 Feb 14;3 (1)}. [2]
As stated above, the field is always changing and there are exciting discoveries in research that help everyday to inform practice. The best advice I can give is to develop good working relationships with the professionals in your life (pediatricians, psychiatrists, naturopaths, neurologists, psychologists, teachers, etc.) and ask questions.
[1] Grigel, K. R. N-Acetylcysteine in the treatment of childhood Autism. Natural Medicine Journal, September 2012, vol 4, issue 9,
[2] Williams. D. Alternatives, Volume 16, No 9, September 2013. Solutions for Autism
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