Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Responding to essential fatty acids (EFA)

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:11:55 +0000

Why is the omega 3/6/9 or the Cod Liver Oils not mentioned? It was my understanding that this is the best way to get them into the chilren and the easiest.

Thank you,

Diannna

Firstly, cod liver oil has high levels of vitamin A. See the therapy fact sheet on vitamin A to review some of the risks associated with vitamin A therapy.

Secondly, most of the studies were performed using omega-3 fatty acids from fish and therefore the Healing Thresholds summary focuses on the use of omega-3 fatty acids from fish.

Lastly, I think that you will find that fish oil (prified, pharmacautical grade) is as easy to administer as cod liver oil and may be better tolerated by your child. For example, my son had loose stools when we gave him cod liver oil and he does not have this problem with Ultimate Omega oil from Nordic Naturals.

- PWSMom (Healing Thresholds)

Responding to vitamin A (retinoic acid)

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:14:54 +0000

good stuff

Responding to vitamin A (retinoic acid)

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:14:49 +0000

good stuff

Best natural form of omega3

iraci — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:36:57 +0000

I want to share this information, because my son is taken this product and hi is making a lot of progress...

Sacha Inchi oil naturally contains 45% Omega-3 an award-winning flavor! Oh Mega! Sacha Inchi oil is obtained from cold-pressed Sacha Inchi seeds that grow in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest and it was used to feed one of the most powerful civilizations in history, the Inca Empire.

Today, Oh Mega! Sacha Inchi oil is very popular due to its amazing omega content, especially omega-3 , which our bodies do not produce on their own.

Sacha Inchi contains the highest omega-3 concentration of any food on the planet.

Award-winning for its taste alone, sacha inchi oil is making a major breakthrough in the US for health and nutrition – especially as a completely natural, organic replacement for fish oil and other omega-3 supplements.

High unsaturated fatty acids content *Low level of saturated fatty acids *Vitamins A and E *Balanced Omega composition

Sacha inchi seed is grown wildly in the Peruvian Amazon, it was known by native Peruvians thousands of years ago. The Incas represented sacha inchi seed in their ceramics. This seed is also known as the inca peanut.

Scientific researches have found that Sacha inchi is one of the best oilseeds by its composition and high nutritional profile:

Its oil is high in fatty acids: omega 3 (over 48%), omega 6 (36%) and omega 9 (8%)

Sacha inchi oil has a high digestibility (over 96%)

It contains antioxidants vitamin A and vitamin E alpha-tocopherol

Over 60% of the kernel is full of high quality proteins (99% digestible)

Sacha inchi oil is very rich in essential and non-essential amino acids, in sufficient quantities to improve the general human health.

sacha inchi oil has more omega 3 then cod liver oil.

The seeds of Inchi have high protein (27%) and oil (35 - 60%) content. Its oil is one of the largest plant sources of the Omega family of fatty acids, an essential for human life. It contains Omega 3 (48%), Omega 6 (36%), Omega 9 (9%), and protein (27%). They are also rich in iodine and vitamin A and vitamin E.

Modern Uses

Sacha Inchi oil production is increasing in the Peruvian Amazon and is gaining international recognition for its taste and health properties. In June 2007, Sacha Inchi oil won the Médalle D'or (Gold Medal) at the AVPA^[1] Specialty Foods Commodities competition. Sacha Inchi has been called a super food because of its high content of essential fatty acids. The oil has a mild flavour, not bitter, with a nutty finish. With new research emphasizing the health benefits of Omega fatty acids, interest in sustainable sources of Omega is increasing. Sacha Inchi oil is used in vegetarian diets to provide a plant source for Omega-3 fatty acids.

Humanitarian group Oxfam and a group called SEPAR are collaborating to develop techniques for growing Sacha Inchi. Used as a cash crop, Sacha Inchi is bringing money to rural areas and allowing indigenous groups like the Ashaninka to stay in villages.^[

Vitamin A Therapy for Children with Autism

PWSMom — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:54:33 +0000

Body:

What is it?

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is required by the body and found naturally in many foods. Vitamin A is found in liver, sweet potato, carrots, kale, butter, spinach, leafy vegetables, pumpkin, and other fruits and vegetables. Vitamin A helps the body have healthy vision, skin, and bones ^{(1, 2)}. Vitamin A is also believed to help with sensory perception, language, and attention ⁽³⁾.

Vitamin A can be bought in different forms: carotenoids, retinyl acetate, retinol, palmitate, or cod liver oil ⁽⁴⁾. Carotenoids are also found in foods can be broken down in the body to form vitamin A.

What's it like?

Vitamin A therapy is considered a complementary and alternative therapy (CAM). During vitamin A therapy, people with autism take vitamin A supplements including cod liver oil. In rare cases of severe deficiency, doctors may give vitamin A intravenously.

Few studies have been performed that look at vitamin A therapy and autism. Doses in one study ranged from 3,500 to 5,000 international units (IU) per day in a 10-year-old boy, to 0.85 milliliters of cod liver oil daily for a 14-week-old infant ⁽³⁾.

If you choose vitamin A as an alternative therapy, ask your child's doctor what dose is appropriate for your child.

What is the theory behind it?

Some people with autism may not have enough vitamin A in their diet ^{(5, 6)}. The low amount of vitamin A in their diet may occur because some children with autism have poor nutrition as a result of eating problems. In one case study, an 8 year-old boy had been eating only fried potatoes and drinking only water for 4 years. He had severe eye problems and behavioral problems ⁽⁵⁾. Vitamin A therapy helped his eyes and reduced behavioral problems. While this boy had almost no vitamin A in his diet, less severe vitamin A deficiencies may also occur in people with autism.

Some people may have problems getting vitamin A from their food or they may need extra vitamin A in order to be healthy. These people are described as having a metabolic disorder and vitamin A may help them to be healthy ^{(7, 8)}.

Dr. Megson is the doctor who has written the most about vitamin A and autism. She describes the use of vitamin A to treat children who are missing a specific gene (G-alpha protein defect) that normally helps the body use vitamin A. She believes that giving the patient more vitamin A can treat this genetic problem. While her theory is well described, it is, as yet, unproven ⁽³⁾.

Most scientists and doctors don’t understand how vitamin A supplementation might help most people with autism.

Does it work?

There have been very few studies published on the effects of vitamin A therapy on people with autism. One case report of two children has shown that vitamin A therapy can help people with autism ⁽³⁾. These two children were believed to have a G-alpha protein defect (see What is the theory behind it?). When treated with vitamin A therapy, they showed improvements in speech, eye contact, and vision.

Is it harmful?

Vitamin A may be harmful if someone takes too much (toxicity). Side-effects may vary and depend on what type of vitamin A is taken. For example, carotenoids found in foods are not toxic ^{(4, 9)}.

The recommended daily allowances (RDA) for vitamin A are: 1,000 IU for infants; 1,320 to 2,000 IU for children; and 700 to 1,300 IU for adults (depending on sex, age, and breast-feeding status) ^{(4, 9)}.

The upper limits (maximum daily dose) for vitamin A ^{(4, 9)} are: 2,000 IU for 0 to 3 years old; 3,000 IU for 4 to 8 years old; 5,610 IU for 9 to 13 years old; and 9,240 to 10,000 for adults.

Vitamin A in retinoid forms can lead to health problems when taken at doses above the recommended amount. The range between recommended dose and toxic dose is narrow for retinoid forms of vitamin A as compared to other vitamins.

Side effects of too much vitamin A include queasy stomach, yellowed skin (jaundice), moodiness, irritability, weight loss (anorexia), vomiting, blurry vision, headaches, hair loss, muscle and abdominal pain and weakness, drowsiness and altered mental status.

Check with your child’s pediatrician before starting treatment.

Cost

The cost of vitamin A supplements can vary and depends on the quality of the ingredients, the form and concentration of vitamin A, and the store where it is bought. A bottle of 100 gel capsules often range from $3 to $12.

Ask your child’s pediatrician which forms are best for your child.

Resources

Healing Thresholds has partnered with Webvitamins. They have a large selection of top quality vitamins and supplements.

Vitamin A can also be purchased in a drugstore. It can be included in a multivitamin supplement or it can be purchased individually. Supplements can also be found online, sometimes at a discount.

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References

Nagao, A. 2009. "Absorption and Function of Dietary Carotenoids." Forum Nutr. 61:55-63. Epub@2009 Apr 7:55-63.
Sommer, A. 2008. "Vitamin A Deficiency and Clinical Disease: An Historical Overview." J Nutr. 138(10):1835-1839.
Megson, M.N. 2000. "Is Autism a G-alpha Protein Defect Reversible with Natural Vitamin A?" Med Hypotheses 54(6):979-83.
National Institutes of Health. 2006. "Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin A and Carotenoids." Available at: URL: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamina.asp.
Uyanik, O., et al. 2006. "Food Faddism Causing Vision Loss in an Autistic Child." Child Care Health Dev. 32(5):601-602.
Steinemann, T.L., and S.P. Christiansen. 1998. "Vitamin A Deficiency and Xerophthalmia in an Autistic Child." Arch Ophthalmol. 116(3):392-393.
Johnston, M.V. 2000. "Commentary: Potential Neurobiologic Mechanisms through which Metabolic Disorders Could Relate to Autism." J Autism Dev Disord. 30(5):471-473.
Page, T. 2000. "Metabolic Approaches to the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders." J Autism Dev Disord. 30(5):463-469.
Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. 2001. "Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc." Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Page 82.

Food Faddism Causing Vision Loss in an Autistic Child

scottie — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:55:27 +0000

Title	Food Faddism Causing Vision Loss in an Autistic Child
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Uyanik O, Dogangun B, Kayaalp L, Korkmaz B, Dervent A
Journal Title	Child: Care, Health and Development
Year of Publication	2006
Volume	32
Issue	5
Pages	601-602
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16919140
Teaser	Vitamin A therapy may help children with autism who are also vitamin A deficient.
Full Text	Vitamin A therapy may help children with autism who are also vitamin A deficient. This case study of an 8-year-old boy describes his symptoms of autism and severe eye problems. He squeezed his eyes shut often. The doctors reported several problems with his eyes, including sores and cloudy (opaque) corneas. The child was a picky eater who, for four years, ate only fried potatoes and drank only water. His vitamin A blood levels were very low. After a month of vitamin A therapy, his eyes were improved. His behavior problems were also less severe.

Is Autism a G-alpha Protein Defect Reversible with Natural Vitamin A?

scottie — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:13:10 +0000

Title	Is Autism a G-alpha Protein Defect Reversible with Natural Vitamin A?
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Megson MN
Journal Title	Medical Hypotheses
Year of Publication	2000
Volume	54
Issue	6
Pages	979-983
URL for Abstract	http://www.autism.com/treatable/supplement/megson.htm
Teaser	Vitamin A therapy may be helpful for some people with autism.
Full Text	Vitamin A therapy may be helpful for some people with autism. The author describes her idea that vitamin A may be helpful for people who are missing a certain gene and have a syndrome known as G-alpha protein defect. This article describes two cases of children (a 10 year old and an infant) whose autism symptoms were improved when they were treated with vitamin A (from cod liver oil). The author believes that both children had G-alpha protein defects. G-alpha protein defect can also cause night blindness, and thyroid and pituitary gland problems.

Bone Pain, Growth Failure, and Skin Rash After an Upper Respiratory Illness in a Boy with Autism: Possible Associations with Altered Retinoid Metabolism

scottie — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:18:30 +0000

Title	Bone Pain, Growth Failure, and Skin Rash After an Upper Respiratory Illness in a Boy with Autism: Possible Associations with Altered Retinoid Metabolism
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Mawson AR
Journal Title	Clinical Pediatrics
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	48
Issue	1
Pages	21-25
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18566348?ordinalpos=7&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Full Text	Vitamin C therapy may counter some of the toxic effects of high levels of vitamin A that may follow an infection. This case study describes a boy with autism who had severe pain in the right hip, fatigue, skin rash, and sore gums after being sick with a fever, cold and cough. These bone symptoms appeared three months after the cold was over. The authors suggest that the viral cold increased the level of vitamin A in the blood to toxic levels. The high levels of vitamin A could then have caused low levels of vitamin C. They describe this idea as being counter to the theory that children with autism have low levels of vitamin A.