Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Psychiatry

scottie — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:26:03 +0000

Title	The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Psychiatry
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Cornish S, Mehl_Madrona L
Journal Title	Integrative Medicine Insights
Year of Publication	2008
Volume	3
Pages	33-42
URL for Abstract	http://www.la-press.com/the-role-of-vitamins-and-minerals-in-psychiatry-a1113
Full Text	Vitamin B6 and magnesium therapy may help some children with autism. In one older study, 42% of children with autism had low levels of vitamin B6. These results prompted doctors to try vitamin B6 therapy for patients with autism. Parents of some children with autism reported improvements in behavior with vitamin B6 treatment alone. Some children also showed improvement after combined treatment with vitamin B6 and magnesium. A recent large study (Rimland and Edelson) of 5,780 autistic children and adults reported clinical improvement in 47% of the patients who received combined vitamin B6 and magnesium therapy.

Treatment Controversies in Autism

scottie — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:42:56 +0000

Title	Treatment Controversies in Autism
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Schreibman L
Journal Title	Zero to Three
Year of Publication	2008
Volume	March
Pages	38-45
URL for Abstract	http://www.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/ZTT28-4_mar_08.pdf?docID=7246
Full Text	Research suggests that behavioral autism therapies (discrete trial training and naturalistic strategies) may be most helpful for children with autism. This review article describes autism therapies and the research behind the therapies. The author calls on parents to avoid sensory integration therapy, diet therapy, and vitamin therapy. She notes that applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy) can improve autism symptoms and some children can make large gains with early ABA intervention. Above all, the therapy should be tailored to the child and the family. She calls for more research and careful thinking in order to find new treatments and test whether or not new treatments work.

Immune-Glutamatergic Dysfunction as a Central Mechanism of the Autism Spectrum Disorders

scottie — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:58:03 +0000

Title	Immune-Glutamatergic Dysfunction as a Central Mechanism of the Autism Spectrum Disorders
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Blaylock RL, Strunecka A
Journal Title	Current Medicinal Chemistry
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	16
Issue	2
Pages	157-170
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19149568?ordinalpos=6&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Full Text	Vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin B12, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids may improve symptoms of autism. Autism is a spectrum disease and research has shown that it is likely caused by many genes. This paper describes the idea that autism is caused by a problem with the glutamine chemical in the brain. The authors propose that if glutamine does not work well within the brain, then microglia cells in the brain may become active and secrete many factors that can harm the brain. These factors may then cause symptoms of autism in people who are at genetic risk for autism. Treatment approaches would include use of supplements and reduction of processed foods that have additives that contain glutamate and aspartate. SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS, WHICH ARE KNOWN TO REDUCE EXCITOTOXICITY: Methylcobalamin (vitamin B12) Pyridoxal-5 phosphate (vitamin B6) Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Vitamin C (buffered) CoQ10 Acetyl-L-carnitine Alpha-lipoic acid Magnesium glycinate or lactate Zinc Flavonoids SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS, WHICH ARE KNOWN TO REDUCE MICROGLIAL ACTIVATION: Ibupropen Mincycline Ferulic acid DHEA Curcumin Quercetin Silymarin Baicalein Resveratrol DHA/EPA

Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Treatments for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

scottie — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:09:24 +0000

Title	Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Treatments for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Levy SE, Hyman SL
Journal Title	Child Adolesc Psychiatric Clin N Am
Year of Publication	2008
Volume	17
Issue	4
Pages	803-820
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18775371?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Full Text	Doctors and patients may benefit if doctors review the science behind complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments for autism. The best therapies for autism are special education, speech therapy, social skills therapy, and applied behavior analysis (ABA therapy). This review article describes the common use of CAM treatments for autism and grades each one based upon the scientific research that has been done. Secretin has been well studied as a treatment for autism and it has been shown not to help. Music therapy, vitamin B6/magnesium, dimethylglycine, and others have been studied a little bit. There are no studies about whether yoga, folate, or probiotics are able to help with the symptoms of autism.

Vitamin B6, Magnesium, and Combined B6-Mg: Therapeutic Effects in Childhood Autism

scottie — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:28:29 +0000

Title	Vitamin B6, Magnesium, and Combined B6-Mg: Therapeutic Effects in Childhood Autism
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Martineau J, Barthelemy C, Garreau B, Lelord G
Journal Title	Biol Psychiatry
Year of Publication	1985
Volume	20
Issue	5
Pages	467-478
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=3886023&query_hl=5&itool=pubmed_docsum
Full Text	This article describes a study showing that the behavior of children with autism may be improved with supplementation using vitamin B6 and magnesium together, but not vitamin B6 or magnesium alone. The focus of this report is on 60 children with autism (3-14 years old). Over a two-week treatment period, of these children who received vitamin B6 and magnesium, some received vitamin B6 alone, and some received magnesium alone. Over another two-week period, the children received a placebo that looked and tasted like the supplement they had received during the treatment period. The dose of vitamin B6 was 30 mg/kg/day (about 500 mg daily for a 40-pound child), and the dose of magnesium was 10-15 mg/kg/day (about 180-270 mg daily for a 40-pound child). Each child was observed before and after the treatment and placebo periods, and behavior was rated. The observers did not know which kind of supplement the child was taking. Brain waves were recorded before and after treatment to determine whether each treatment affected the way the brain responded to sounds. The results showed that significant improvements in behavior resulted only from the combined vitamin B6 and magnesium treatment. This was also the only treatment that showed positive effects on brain wave patterns.

Scientifically Unsupported Therapies in the Treatment of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

scottie — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:36:25 +0000

Title	Scientifically Unsupported Therapies in the Treatment of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Schechtman MA
Journal Title	Pediatric Annals
Year of Publication	2007
Volume	36
Issue	8
Pages	497-505
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17849608&ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Full Text	Many parents use scientifically unproven therapies to help their children with autism. This article reviews a few therapies that are used to treat autism (vitamins, sensory integration therapy, facilitated communication, auditory integration therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and others). The author states that while some treatments can improve autism in many children, the above therapies have not been proven to work in research studies. Vitamin therapy includes vitamins A, C, B6-magnesium complex, folic acid, and B12. Sensory integration therapy is designed to help children learn to process the input from their senses. Facilitated communication involves having a person guide the child with autism as he or she talks through a computer.

Yummy Food or Yucky Food

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:29:47 +0000

One Person's Yummy Food Is Another Person's Yucky Food

Vegetables and protein (fish, poultry, meats, and beans) are the most common food aversions. Some children even reject fruits. The diet becomes extremely restricted to bland, white foods, including sweets, breads, pasta, crackers, pretzels, chips, and macaroni and cheese. These foods are glycemic and raise blood glucose, quickly increasing the demand for insulin production. Zinc is part of the insulin molecule and is depleted, resulting in abnormal taste and taste perception. What develops is an aversion to the flavors in natural foods and increased cravings for highly sweetened foods and those foods containing MSG. (MSG affects the brain's perception of flavor.) The diet becomes more narrow, and nutritional status declines, resulting in more limited food choices. The white diet and vegetable aversion is common among children in Western cultures due to the high exposure to processed and sweet foods. For children with sensory and developmental issues, the aversions are much more pervasive and serious.

There are three potential contributors that lead to the limited appetite, cravings, and food aversions:

The formation of opiate-like peptides from gluten and milk products, resulting in cravings for the foods that are the sources.
Zinc deficiency or deficiencies in zinc metabolism and function. Zinc is responsible for sensory development and function, including taste and taste perception.
The presence of toxic metals that can interfere with sensory development and function.

The negative effect of this combination can result in faulty messages from the sensory receptors to the brain and dysfunctional interpretation of those messages by the brain. Perception is the "truth" for that person. This is why begging, bribing, and punishing do not and will not work.

The solution is multifaceted. Correction of nutritional deficiencies and elimination of toxic metals are mandatory and involve appropriate therapeutic supplementation based on findings. Foods that cause reactions and/or opiate-like peptides need to be eliminated as healthy, safe foods are introduced and accepted.

How to Go from Yucky to Yummy-The Trojan Horse Technique

For those with texture issues, it is important to adapt the diet to the child's oral and food developmental stage. If textures are a sensory issue, no matter how tasty the food, it will not be consumed. By providing the food in a sensory-pleasing form, the child benefits nutritionally and begins to find mealtime more pleasant and rewarding. Purees are generally helpful. They are better tolerated and can open the door for getting more types of foods into the diet. Many family dishes, including soups, casseroles, or the meat and vegetable main dish, can also be served pureed for the child who has sensory texture issues. In this way, the whole family is enjoying the same meal.

Many of the recipes in this book have been selected to expand nutritional intake, especially using the Trojan Horse Technique-hiding a small amount of the new food (especially vegetables and proteins) within a very well tolerated and acceptable food. Each child differs and, therefore, it is important to identify what foods will work as "carriers" to get the new foods in.

Purees can be made from cooked fresh or frozen vegetables and/or purchased baby foods. If your child is offended by being served baby food, simply keep it well hidden. Create interesting new names for the foods and see that others in the family join in consuming them. The secret to success in introducing these new foods is to combine a small amount with the food the child already likes. For many children, this is the only way new foods can be introduced.

Start with 1 tablespoon (15 g) or less-and then increase when tolerated. Hide the cooked vegetable purees anywhere you can, selecting colors that are not obvious when added to the carrier food. The carrier food needs to be one that the child enjoys. It may even be a food that is being slowly eliminated. Include pureed fruits to improve the taste. Here are some examples of places to hide foods (and even supplements):

Spaghetti Sauce. Blend the pureed vegetables thoroughly with at least three times as much spaghetti sauce; then hand-mix the new blend in with the rest of the sauce. Carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, turnips, squash, green beans, and peas are easy to hide in spaghetti sauce. Watch the amount of green if it is a food color that your child rejects.
Muffins, Cakes, and Brownies. Well·pureed foods are easy to hide in these batters, including pureed chicken and turkey. A chicken/vegetable/fruit muffin becomes a healthy meal!
Pancakes. Not only can pureed vegetables and fruits hide well in the batter, but they are also a good hiding place for supplements such as protein powders, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.
Peanut Butter. If a child likes peanut butter, it is an excellent medium for adding small amounts of protein and nutritional supplements.
Meatballs. If these are well liked, especially with spaghetti sauce, the job becomes a whole lot easier. Well-pureed vegetables and fruits are an excellent thickener/filler for meatballs. Make many and freeze them, and then bring them out for snacks.
Juices, especially those with a strong flavor, such as pineapple juice, grape juice, nectars, apple cider, and orange juice.
Smoothies, Fruit Purées, and Applesauce. These offer an unlimited opportunity for expanding nutrition and an excellent way to hide supplements. Protein powders can be included to expand protein intake, especially for those with texture issues who avoid meat, beans, and other sources of protein. Always start with the fruit your child favors and then expand.
Let chocolate be your friend. There are sources of GFCF chocolate chips, sauces, powders, and so forth. Check the product search section of the GFCF Diet site (www.gfcfdiet.com/directory.htm).
Add unflavored gelatin to cooked purees to lend more substance and improve digestion.

The above is an excerpt from the book The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook: The Ultimate Guide to the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet
by Pamela J. Compart, M.D. and Dana Laake, R.D.H., M.S., L.D.N.
Published by Fair Winds Press; November 2006;$24.95US/$32.50CAN; 978-1-59233-223-6
Copyright © 2008 Pamela J. Compart, M.D. and Dana Laake, R.D.H., M.S., L.D.N

Author Bio
Pamela J. Compart, M.D., is a developmental pediatrician in Columbia, Maryland. She combines traditional and complementary medicine approaches to the treatment of ADHD, autism, and other behavioral and developmental disorders. She is also the director of HeartLight Healing Arts, a multidisciplinary integrated holistic health care practice, providing services for children, adults, and families.

Dana Godbout Laake, R.D.H., M.S., L.D.N., is a licensed nutritionist in Kensington, Maryland. Within her practice, Dana Laake Nutrition, she provides preventive and therapeutic medical nutrition services. Her practice includes nutritional evaluation and treatment of the full spectrum of health issues affecting adults and children with special needs.

Parental Experience with Treatments for Autism

scottie — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:07:32 +0000

Title	Parental Experience with Treatments for Autism
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Green V
Journal Title	J Dev Phys Disabil
Year of Publication	2007
Volume	19
Issue	2
Pages	91-101
URL for Abstract	http://www.springerlink.com/content/r462960415g1486g/?p=dba8e6e556834490bb9c654dac7d3fff&pi=1
Full Text	This study was designed to see why parents choose certain treatments for their children with autism. The author looked at three interventions: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, sensory integration therapy, and vitamin B6/magnesium therapy. She found that parents often listen to other parents and turn to the Internet when making therapy decisions. While some parents do listen to professionals, they do not believe professionals over parents or Web sites. This study highlights the needs for parents to have access to valid sources of autism therapy information on the Internet.

Improvement of Neurobehavioral Disorders in Children Supplemented with Magnesium-Vitamin B6. II. Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Autism

scottie — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:47:54 +0000

Title	Improvement of Neurobehavioral Disorders in Children Supplemented with Magnesium-Vitamin B6. II. Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Autism
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Mousain-Bosc M, Roche M, Polge A, Pradal-Prat D, Rapin J, Bali JP
Journal Title	Magnesium Res.
Year of Publication	2006
Volume	19
Issue	1
Pages	53-62
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16846101?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Full Text	Magnesium-vitamin B6 supplements may help some children with autism. This study reported behavior improvements in children with autism or pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) who took magnesium-vitamin B6 supplements. The study compared 33 children with PDD or autism to 36 normal children. All children received magnesium-vitamin B6 supplements. There was improvement in social interactions, communication, and/or other behaviors in 24 out of 33 children, comparing before supplements to after supplements. The improvements decreased when the supplements were stopped for a couple of weeks.

Mother Gives Every Therapy a Chance in Fight Against Autism

scottie — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:58:41 +0000

Teaser:

Jennifer Blaton of Shreveport, LA, like a lot of parents, will stop at nothing to help her daughter with autism.

Body:

Jennifer Blaton of Shreveport, LA, like a lot of parents, will stop at nothing to help her daughter with autism. At the foundation of her daughter's treatment is a gluten- and casein-free diet; this appears to have made the biggest different in Darbee's integration. In addition, Blaton gives her daughter vitamin supplements including B12 and magnesium sulfate cream. Her daughter receives regular testing for the presence of heavy metals in her body as well as monthly intravenous chelation treatments. While Darbee is non-verbal, she makes straight As in school.

Read original article.