Comprehensive Guide to Managing Autism - 6

Healing the Leaky Gut

To heal the digestion and the leaky gut, basically seven things are needed—supplement the following divided into 2 or more servings:

      1. The amino acid L-glutamine (1500 mg/day, a maximum for your child would be 3000 mg/day) that also reduces blood and brain ammonia levels. Experiments with various animal models have demonstrated that the provision of glutamine can result in better nitrogen homeostasis, with conservation of skeletal muscle. This leads to better ability to learn, to retain, and to recall. There is also considerable evidence that glutamine can enhance the barrier function of the gut. Furthermore, it is now known that the gut produces large amounts of a vital antioxidant, glutathione, when adequate glutamine is present.  

Glutamine is the principal metabolic fuel for small intestine enterocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts (major players in the immune function). Supplemental use of glutamine increases intestinal villus height, stimulates the gut's mucosal, cellular proliferation, and maintains mucosal integrity. It also prevents intestinal hyperpermeability and bacterial translocation, which may be involved in sepsis and the development of multiple organ failure—Miller AL, Altern Med Rev, 1999 Aug, 4:4, 239-48. 

L-glutamine is essential for the synthesis of the mucoproteins present in the mucous secretions of the GI tract. These secretions are responsible for protecting the lining of the GI tract. In addition to protective qualities, L-glutamine administration has been known to actually improve mucosal structure and healing (Arch Surg 1990;125(8):1040-45). The Merck Index reports that cabbage contains vitamin U, the anti-ulcer vitamin, used in “treatment of gastric disorders” (Merck Index, Merck & Co., Rahway, NJ. 1989, p 1581). Some of the healing properties of cabbage may be due to its high L-glutamine content. Cabbage juice suppresses Candida yeast infection (Heinerman, ibid, p56), and is an excellent laxative. Use it to clear impactions of the bowel. 

Glutamine is often low due to yeast toxins. An adequate amount of this amino promotes the production of growth hormone. Just be careful with glutamine. When it converts to glutamate in the intestines this releases ammonia. Excess lysine tends to excess ammonia. If you have low arginine, it will be difficult to eliminate the ammonia. Arginine also promotes the production of growth hormone. It is possible that the bacteria in the gut have lowered the arginine levels. Dr. Braverman mentions a case presented by Stanbury and colleagues from MIT, where the presenting symptom was constipation. The bowel flora contained the bacteria Streptococcus fecalis, a potent source of arginine desaminase. This enzyme converts arginine back to citrulline, and an excess of the enzyme caused a deficiency of arginine in the patient. Supplement arginine while struggling with this invader.  

So, perhaps start correcting folic acid, B₁₂, zinc, molybdenum, arginine, aspartate, and the other aminos that help remove ammonia, before trying glutamine. If ammonia is already high, alpha-ketoglutaric acid (alpha-ketoglutarate) might be a better place to start. It will convert to glutamate when it absorbs ammonia. Glutamate then absorbs another ammonia molecule to become glutamine that delivers the unwanted ammonia to the urea cycle leading to the formation of urea that can be passed out through the kidneys. As an added bonus, alpha ketoglutarate is needed to convert B₆ into its useable coenzyme form. Get expert guidance on using the aminos, and be very observant when you use them.

      2. Bromelain (200 mg/day), a digestive aid and anti-inflammatory usually available in item 3.

      3. A digestive aid of pancreatic enzymes, including lipase, amylase, lactase, cellulase, and peptidase, (with ox bile if there is evidence of indigestion of fat). Use enough to correct all observed stomach or bowel irregularities. A good one is Kirkman’s EnZym-Complete™ or SpectraZyme™ by Metagenics™ available from www.randallnutritioncenter.com/rcnc2000/spectrazyme.html, or Fern’s Nutrition, 1-800-229-3376. SpectraZyme™ is $16.95 US for 60 capsules (Fern’s: free shipping in USA on orders over $25). It doesn’t contain ox bile. There are only a couple of possible downsides. If you are taking large, regular doses of aspirin or NSAIDS, these will make your stomach so raw, and your gut so leaky, that the protease could eat on your stomach or gut. To give the stomach full protection against HCl and protease, drink a large glass of water one-half hour before eating (this will hydrate the mucus lining of the stomach), and take the enzymes with the first part of your meal, unless they are swallowing veggie capsules. They take longer to dissolve. Take them 15 minutes before eating. (mix it in a spoon of food for children). So, if taking lots of pain pills, or if you have an ulcer, or severe gastritis, find an enzyme supplement without protease. RGardens, International, “Gamma-Zyme”, 200 capsules for $30.00, is the only one I know of (Phone 800-700-7767).  

Some have found MSM as effective as Tagamet™ or Zantac™ in relieving ulcer pain. Remember too, that aspirin or aspirin-containing compounds or anti-inflammatory drugs such as indocin, butazolidin, or cortisone should never be taken when hydrochloric acid is being supplemented. This combination increases the risk of ulcer. Two enzyme tablets at bedtime are reported to usually desensitize you to pollens and things that cause hayfever—and perhaps other allergies. Enzymes introduced in large amounts too quickly can affect the bowel: usually diarrhea, intestinal bloating, peculiar acrid smell of the stool, and, in some cases, itching of the perianal area. Work up to dose slowly, back off if these symptoms persist.

      4. Probiotics: Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bifido Bifidus—these produce most of the available vitamins B–complex and K, and the fatty acids that the cells in the lining of the gut depend on for their nutrition, and they keep candida yeast from becoming a problem. Take these on an empty stomach for best results, possibly with a little soda water to help them survive the journey.

      5. Supplement vitamins A and D [preferably as cod-liver oil (5000 to 10,000 IU vitamin A, 500 to 1000 IU vitamin D)], and the minerals zinc (15-30 mg/day) and copper (in an 8:1 zinc/copper ratio, unless testing shows there is high copper already—as it probably will in autism), in addition to a broad-based, multi-vitamin/mineral supplement Nutrilite™ Food Supplement by Amway™ or, preferably, Profile or GlycoBears™ chewable multivitamin/mineral by Mannatech™. Zinc reduces intestinal permeability in malnourished children with diarrhea. A lack of copper may cause seizures—Arch Dis Child, 1982;57[9]:716-18. A lowered hematocrit (red blood cell count) can be indicative of lowered blood copper levels (copper anemia). 

A 1977 South African Medical Journal study of vitamin A as therapy for excessive bleeding (bleeding is the leading cause of hysterectomies) resulted in a 92.5% cure rate. The article cited the use of vitamin A at Johannesburg General Hospital, and documented a 92% cure rate over a ten-year period. An extreme vegetarian diet, recommended and promoted by many, depletes the body’s stores of vitamin A leading to malnutrition. A search of standard nutrition textbooks confirms that persons with low thyroid function, babies, and young children are unable to convert beta carotene (found in vegetables and used in place of vitamin A in most vitamin pills) into usable vitamin A. Patients with low thyroid often have excess bleeding, and are at extreme risk of unneeded surgery to the reproductive organs. In addition to this, many foods, particularly the soy foods with a high copper, diadzen, and genistein content, are known to depress the thyroid function. The textbooks also state that vitamin A is needed for iron absorption, and the building of blood, but few indeed will direct that vitamin A be taken with iron supplements. 

The antioxidant Vitamin A is vital to a child’s ability to sleep through the night, to have abundant energy, and to have a strong immune system. Additionally, in Southern Africa, high death rates following measles vaccine were reduced to virtually zero by injecting 250,000 IU of vitamin A with the vaccine! In an American study, kids who stayed out of trouble got 8,000 IU of vitamin A in their diet, those who were usually in trouble, got 3,000! Grab that CLO! 

Dr. Woody McGinnis, MD, Tucson, Arizona, USA has this to say about copper: “I think a lot of our behavioral kids are intolerant of even a milligram or two of extra copper, even in the face of high Zinc supplementation. This is contrary to the usual proportional balance we like to strike. I get a serum Copper and a plasma Zinc, and try to keep the ratio less than 1:1.” This intolerance is probably because normal levels of copper are toxic to mercury-poisoned people. High copper is also one indicator of candida.  

The significance and urgency of building vitamin A is seen in a recent report: “These data indicate that vitamin A is necessary for optimal function in the hippocampus, which we know to be a main seat of learning,” said Salk researcher Sharoni Jacobs, “The study indicates that the detrimental effects of vitamin A deprivation (on learning) are remarkably reversible, which offers hope to the millions of children worldwide with vitamin A-deficient diets.”

      6. Aloe (preferably Manapol™, or Ambrotose^® by Mannatech™ that contains Manapol™ and many other saccharides for even better results, for they are the only stabilized, standardized, aloe products available).

      7. Fiber, preferably fructooligosaccharide to provide an environment for the “good guys” to overcome yeast and other “bad guys”, or other non-gluten fiber.

      8. Restore adequate sulfate to the body as outlined in the section Phenol-sulfotransferase below. 

When the gut is healed and the digestion restored, bizarre eating habits will cease, and a more balanced dietary will be possible. There are three things to know about glutamine:

      1. It can cause a buzz like excess caffeine—the kid will be hyper, in that case reduce the amount until this disappears. The amount recommended is not likely to do this.

      2. High glutamine readings are seen in subclinical ammonia toxicity. This could be due to a weak detoxification, or to excess protein intake. In the latter case, other amino acids will be high.

      3. Glutamine and arginine are the precursors that, with the help of vitamin B₆, produce the amino acid GABA. Perhaps because of this relationship, both glutamine and vitamin B₆ have been shown helpful to those suffering epilepsy. A pyridoxine deficiency decreased GABA in the hippocampal area by 32% in female rats. GABA is an inhibitory transmitter that exerts a calming action.