PDD = Pervasive Developmental Disorders. This is an umbrella term for an array of complex neurological conditions (disorders) characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development, including social interaction and communications skills. There are five sub-categories and Autism is one of them. Asperger's Syndrome is also included although it does not have a designated category. PDD /autism are considered 'spectrum disorders' because of the wide variety of symptoms and characteristics exhibited, as well as possibly underlying medical conditions and individual makeup. No one method alone is usually effective in treating these conditions. Professionals and families have found a number of different combinations of treatments which may be effective in helping the person to improve their quality of life and ability to function. These may include combinations of medications, nutrition, behaviorial, sensory, and educational therapies. A 'diagnosis' of a PDD condition is often given if the individual meets a certain number of observable behaviorial criteria. This can be a subjective call and can vary widely. This contributes to the wide diversity of symptoms included. Because the underlying causes of these symptoms can be very different, the appropriate 'treatments' for each person can be quite different and may take some trial and error, or detective work, to find. Usually, several types of therapies most appropriate for the person is used together in a total program approach. Finding this set and appropriate ways to implement each becomes the trick. There is no cure for certain aspects of autism spectrum conditions (like different ways of thinking). However, there are a wide variety of therapies or treatment that may help alleviate some of the unpleasant or problematic symptoms of spectrum conditions (like gastrointestinal problems, bacteria infections, sensory input integration, motor skills, visual problems, etc.). A spectrum person may have pain or discomfort from gut problems just as well as a non-spectrum person. This site focuses on the gastrointestinal aspects and areas that digestive enzymes may assist with (which are many). Information on behavioral, educational, sensory, and other therapies are the focus of other sites. These all work together just as any person needs education, physical fitness, good nutrition and special attention to their individual needs. see List of Abbreviations Often Used with Special Needs
Nutrition for Spectrum Conditions Good nutrition and digestion is important for everyone. Someone, especially a young child or person with communication difficulties, may have a harder time relaying what they are feeling. So if something is upsetting them, you may not know exactly what is the problem. Children with neurological difficulties often have eating and digestive problems. This may be due to a real unidentified biological issue which is manifesting in problematic behavior. There is a nerve system that is tightly interconnected with the digestive tract. Things that affect digestion also affect the nervous system. The book 'Enzymes for Autism and other Neurological Conditions' focuses extensively on explaining this and how digestive enzymes fit into the picture (whether you want to supplement them or just understand how the gut and nutrition work). This book includes extensive scientific references. Prevalence of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in children with autism and autistic spectrum disorders. Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH 45229-3039, USA. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in a general population of children with autism or autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). The study site was a clinic specializing in ASD in a large pediatric medical center serving a 10 county area in the midwestern USA. In a sample of 137 children, age 24-96 months, classified as having autism or ASD by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic, 24 percent had a history of at least one chronic gastrointestinal symptom. The most common symptom was diarrhea, which occurred in 17 percent. There was no association between chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and a history of developmental regression. The potential phenotypic association between autism and gastrointestinal symptoms is discussed.
Diets/Eating Plans sometimes used:
Here is an outline or organization scheme for all the possible therapies: 1. Some type of one-on-one interacting with child, such as the following
2. Some type of Sensory Integration Therapy, as needed
3. Some type of biological measures, if needed
Too B or Not Too B Sometimes parents are advised to give very excessively high doses of B6 for their children with autism spectrum conditions. However, experience shows that many children have very terrible reactions to supplements with excessively high doses of B6. The ARI information from over several decades also shows that the majority of people with autism do not benefit from high B6 vitamin supplements although some do. A high does is about 50 mg, a very high dose 100 mg, and excessively high often way over that. While some B6 as well as other basic vitamins are beneficial, excessive amounts may be too much neuro- stimulant particularly for neurologically sensitive people. It is important to check with a qualified medical doctor for your situation when taking anything over the Recommended Daily Allowance of anything. Why so many negative reactions and why might some do okay with it? For one thing, most all sources agree that B vitamins work as a team together and should be taken in the proper ratios - a balance of B vitamins. Taking an excessive amount of just one or two individual vitamins in the B family can cause deficiencies in other B vitamins. So you might just be trading one problem for another. Another problem is that many synthetically made B6 vitamins may be made from coal-tar. Coal-tar derived synthetics include artificial colorings and flavorings. So if someone has a sulfate processing problem, or is sensitive to artificial additives of this nature, or doesn't tolerate phenolic compounds or artificial additives, then they may very likely not tolerate B6 vitamins if they are synthetically derived. If you are not tolerating B vitamins, you might want to look at a non- synthetic source of nutrients. More information and several non-synthetic formulations are at the link below. In the middle of this page are some links that go to research showing why taking lots of synthetic supplements is not always the most healthful, and you might want to try getting as much nutrition from natural sources as possible. This may be one good reason that many seem to do better with enzymes with regular diet (as much as possible) than super-restrictive diets and lots of synthetic supplements. And a reason why Peptizyde enzymes with casein/gluten foods in the diet bring much more improvement that staying on a GFCF diet for some spectrum individuals. Another reason may have something to do with yeast. Dr. Semon (the author of 'Feast without Yeast' and autism doctor) said that if you have yeast you should NOT take B vitamins as these feed yeast...or the yeast intercept it so you don't benefit, etc. Something else to look into exactly if you have yeast and are considering B vitamins above the RDA level. So who might benefit from extra B vitamins? Well, if you have a genetic condition called pyroluria. Pyroluria is none to cause deficiencies in B6 and zinc. The following link shows that pyroluria runs about 20% in autism and 30% in schizophrenia (although some doctors speculate this might be a bit higher). These numbers are roughly about the same number of people who seem to benefit from extra doses of B6 vitamins (extra zinc and evening primrose. So it might be that those benefitting from extra B6 are really correcting something brought on by pyroluria which brings the total body amount of B6 up to a typical level. The extra B6 is necessary to override the deficiency so the person is actually metabolizing something closer to an RDA or needed amount. Something to consider. There is a test that can be done through most commercial labs that checks for pyroluria. You can ask about having this done if you are considering extra high B6 amounts. This link also lists the symptoms/characteristics of pyroluria. see Pyroluria
There is evidence that viruses can cause dysfunction in the brain and damage the protective coating, called myelin, around the nerves. This leaves the nerves exposed and susceptible to damage. A discussion on why autism has an autoimmune basis and why this most likely involves a virus. You can read ‘Autism, Autoimmunity and Immunotherapy’ at: http://libnt2.lib.tcu.edu/staff/lruede/singhfeature.html, or contact the Autism Autoimmunity Project.
Resources Magazines and Resources Advocate magazine from Autism Society of America Autism-Aspergers Digest magazine from Future Horizons Asperger's: www.faaas.org Primary Behavioral Therapy Techniques Floortime information
Differences between the gut microflora of children with autistic spectrum disorders and that of healthy children. J Med Microbiol. 2005 Oct;54(Pt 10):987-91. PMID: 16157555 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) tend to suffer from severe gastrointestinal problems. Such symptoms may be due to a disruption of the indigenous gut flora promoting the overgrowth of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms. The faecal flora of patients with ASDs was studied and compared with those of two control groups (healthy siblings and unrelated healthy children). Faecal bacterial populations were assessed through the use of a culture-independent technique, fluorescence in situ hybridization, using oligonucleotide probes targeting predominant components of the gut flora. The faecal flora of ASD patients contained a higher incidence of the Clostridium histolyticum group (Clostridium clusters I and II) of bacteria than that of healthy children. However, the non-autistic sibling group had an intermediate level of the C. histolyticum group, which was not significantly different from either of the other subject groups. Members of the C. histolyticum group are recognized toxin-producers and may contribute towards gut dysfunction, with their metabolic products also exerting systemic effects. Strategies to reduce clostridial population levels harboured by ASD patients or to improve their gut microflora profile through dietary modulation may help to alleviate gut disorders common in such patients.
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This independent site is for education and information about digestive enzymes. There is a large need to provide practical and general information on enzyme therapy for a wide range of uses. Enzymes have been around a very long time. Hopefully this site will help reduce the learning curve. Ideas, comments, and questions are welcome.  |
