Autism, Inflammation, Speculation, and Nutrition

By Emily Deans, M.D. on April 23, 2011 in Evolutionary Psychiatry

Charles Ives (insurance specialist and modern composer) wrote The Alcotts (right click to open in new tab) somewhere around 1911. It's his most accessible work, as he was one of the first experimenters with polytonal music - you'll hear some, but not too many, of the clashing polytones in this piece. Read More

Sterling work

Submitted by Paul Whiteley on April 23, 2011 - 5:37am.

Another sterling post from Dr D. Same caveats as last time, autism is really autisms (note the s) and pathways seem intricately linked to potential co-morbidities accompanying core symptoms in some cases.
The foetus (fetus) is indeed the 'taker of all' during gestation and hence mother's diet and nutritional intake are all important for lots of different reasons, conditions, etc - for "one cannot take what is not there". This has to be balanced against the potential genetics of mother and infant and how 'all that is taken is used' and whether it is able to be used in optimal fashion.
The recently featured work from reseachers at the MIND Institute are leading the way on how immune function governing inflammatory processes, and psychiatry seem to show more than a passing connection (also in at least a proportion of cases of autism).

Breastfeeding

Submitted by Erik on April 24, 2011 - 9:42pm.

Hi Dr. Deans,

Thank you for the post. Do you think there is any relationship between the development of autism and when the baby stops breastfeeding?

You mentioned kids developing the signs of autism between 12 and 36 months. That is also when new foods start to be introduced into the diet such as dairy and wheat. This is especially true after breastfeeding ends. If the baby is prone to autoimmune problems based on genetics or Mom's environmental contributions, then these dietary agents could cause problems.

Looking forward to reading more of your posts.

Erik

Hi Erik

Submitted by Emily Deans, M.D. on April 25, 2011 - 8:28am.

Many children with autism spectrum disorders have signs nearly from birth - gaze differences, etc. In some children, however, they appear to be developing normally and then seem to regress. It is possible that change has something to do with weaning, though most children have new foods introduced at 4-6 months, these are generally limited to hypoallergenic foods for the first year. There are a lot of variables to consider, so I don't think I have an answer for you, but it seems like a logical place to look for a subset of children.

Legend has it that these are

Submitted by Dana Seilhan on May 1, 2011 - 3:10pm.

Legend has it that these are hypoallergenic foods. Look again at what is recommended for these children. The first food is often rice cereal which, while it may be low-allergen for older children and adults, is still a grass, which is highly allergenic. And four months is entirely too young to be giving a baby solid food. They've barely gotten past their tongue-thrust reflex and their gut lining has not matured.

FYI, folate and folic acid

Submitted by Dana Seilhan on May 1, 2011 - 3:17pm.

FYI, folate and folic acid are not the same thing, a fact of which I have only recently become aware. Folic acid supplementation has been associated with asthma in children as well as cancer in adults, and is not the form of folate used by the body; it must first convert the folic acid to a usable form. It's possible to find folate in supplemental form if you just can't get enough from food, though; look for 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate. Methylfolate may also be a good form but don't quote me on that.

By the same token, beta carotene is not vitamin A, either, and an embryo or fetus cannot convert one to the other, although they do have the ability to control how much vitamin A they get, which sort of obviates the "vitamin A causes birth defects" argument. I'm getting worried about the tendency for pregnant women to under-consume the fat-soluble vitamins--especially A, D3, and K2, which unlike E are not found in grains--and for all I know this shortage is affecting brain development too, and is definitely affecting skull and facial development in profound ways.