Autism Therapy: oxidative stress

definition of oxidative stress: Condition in which free radicals cause damage to the body and brain.

No Factsheets to Display

Evidence of Oxidative Stress in Autism Derived from Animal Models
American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, by Ming, X., Cheh MA, Yochum CL, Halladay AK, and Wagner GC, published in 2008, summarized Jun 9, 2008

Vitamin E may be able to protect against chemical damage that may cause autism.

This study was designed to see if treatment with vitamin E could protect mice from showing signs of autism after being given the chemical valproic acid. One of the tests that the authors used for autism was the ability of the mice to have the reflex to turn their head over when their head was pointed down. They also looked to see if a baby mouse could turn in mid-air when dropped on to a padded surface. They also studied how much the mice moved before and after vitamin E treatment. Taken together, the authors suggest that these measures provide a mouse model for autism.


The Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Symptoms in Children with Autism: An Open-Label Pilot Study
BMC Pediatrics, by Rossignol, DA, Rossignol LW, James SJ, Melnyk S., and Mumper E., published in 2007, summarized Mar 31, 2008

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) appears to be safe and may improve symptoms of autism.

This study was designed to see if HBOT had an effect on blood work or behavior of children with autism. The study used low hyperbaric pressure (1.5 atm and 100% oxygen or 1.3 atm and 24% oxygen). The therapy sessions were 45 minutes long, which is shorter than the 60 minutes often used for HBOT. The authors found that HBOT did not increase cell stress (intracellular oxidative stress). This is good because others studies have found that symptoms of autism get worse when there are signs of cell stress.


Biomarkers for Oxidative Stress: Clinical Application in Pediatric Medicine
Current Medical Chemistry, by Tsukahara, H., published in 2007, summarized May 14, 2007

Some people use antioxidants to treat autism even though there is not yet a lot of research in support of antioxidant therapy.

Antioxidants are things that prevent damage from happening in the body. Folinic acid, betaine, and methylcobalamin are antioxidants that have been used as a therapy for autism. This article reviewed the research behind using antioxidants to treat children. The author described the tests that are now available to see if damage is happening in the childâ??s body. Doctors still donâ??t know what sorts of things damage a childâ??s body such that he needs antioxidants.


Altered Vascular Phenotype in Autism: Correlation with Oxidative Stress
Arch Neurol., by Yao, Y., Walsh WJ, McGinnis WR, and Pratico D., published in 2006, summarized Oct 21, 2006

This article suggests that autism may be associated with oxidative stress as well as changes in blood circulation.

It is already known that children with autism are likely to have more oxidative stress, or difficulty in managing free radicals, than children who do not have autism. It is also known that children with autism have unusual blood circulation. The authors of this study set out to determine if these facts could be biologically linked to one another. To do so, they tested the urine of 26 children with autism and 12 controls (ages not given) for biomarkers of oxidative stress (isoprostane) as well as two biomarkers for abnormal blood cells and blood flow. They found that the children with autism had significantly higher levels of all three biomarkers than the controls. They also found a significant correlation between the level of isoprostane and the levels of the two biomarkers for abnormal blood cells and blood flow, suggesting that there is a link between oxidative stress and changes in blood circulation in children with autism.


Showing 1-4 of 5 results

No News to Display

No Comments to Display


Please comment on oxidative stress or other autism therapy topics.

  • Factsheet
  • Research
  • News
  • Comments.
    • Share |