ADHD, Autism, Allergies and Obesity

Article from a Metagenic's Seminar October 2011

Children's Health'

There is no disputing that the prevalence of childhood epidemics such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD and other learning disorders is on the rise. Although there are different subtypes, and a broad and emerging diagnostic criteria, there is no doubt that our smallest patients need all the help we can give them to support healthy learning and behavioral development.

Behavioural disorders are complex and multi-factorial, with many elements at play both causing and exacerbating symptoms and affecting neuronal development. There is a complex interrelationship between the gut, brain and immune system (known as the Gut-Brain-Immune axis or GBI axis) and imbalances in this system are intimately involved in behavioural disorders. Supporting healthy digestion and elimination of toxins, as well as laying a sound nutritional foundation for central nervous system (CNS) structure and function, may assist Healthcare Practitioners to restore this delicate balance and manage these conditions in their smallest patients.

Toxins Taking their Toll

Living in the modern world, our kids are exposed to many compounding factors affecting their health, including potentially neurotoxic substances and heavy metals. Stimulant medication prescriptions are on the increase, and the overuse of antibiotics is common. Underdeveloped detoxification pathways and decreased cellular antioxidant levels¹ mean kids may be exposed to a cocktail of toxins that their bodies are not well equipped to handle. This leads to a perpetual cycle of inflammation and oxidative stress which may affect neuronal health and cause damage to a child’s developing brain. Even a small level of toxin accumulation can generate harmful effects in susceptible children, emphasising the importance of supporting their antioxidant and detoxification capacity.

Children’s Gut, Liver and Detoxification Support provides support for gut repair and hepatic detoxification in children, whilst also promoting production of the primary intracellular antioxidant, glutathione. Aloe vera,2 slippery elm and marshmallow improve mucosal secretion and soothe inflamed gut walls, whilst turmeric3 and milk thistle aid in liver detoxification.4 Small citrus pectin molecules are easily absorbed across the gut wall and bind to heavy metals for excretion,5 whilst cysteine and glycine support phase II detox pathways and combine to synthesise glutathione. Due to its role in the protection against free radicals, liver detoxification and heavy metal excretion,6 adequate glutathione is essential for all aspects of the GBI axis. Even though they are just little people, kids can have a big toxic load which makes supporting gut and liver health a key component in the treatment of learning and behavioural disorders.

ABC – Building Blocks for a Healthy Brain

Another cornerstone in the treatment of learning or behavioural difficulties is to ensure adequate nutritional support for the structural integrity of the central nervous system (CNS). Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is one of the major structural building blocks in the brain, playing an integral role in brain development and cognition due to its role in proper neuronal functioning.⁷ Phospholipids including phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol play a key role in the integration of essential fatty acids into the cell membranes of the brain and nervous system.⁸ Second to adipose tissue, the brain has the largest concentration of lipids in the human body. It stands to reason that without adequate good fats, the brain suffers; and when the brain suffers, so does cognition, learning and behavior.

Children’s Lipid Complex for Brain Support provides concentrated omega-3 essential fatty acids, vitamin D3 and soy lecithin. Phosphatidylserine is one of the main components of lecithin and comprises approximately 15% of the total phospholipid pool found in the brain. In the presence of adequate phosphatidylserine it is believed that cellular signalling and nerve transmission are improved as it plays a vital role in signal transduction, cell-to-cell communication and cell growth regulation.⁹ Vitamin D is critical for brain development and function; calcitriol can cross the BBB although it is also produced in the brain itself. It stimulates the expression of numerous genes in the brain involved in the formation of the synaptic junctions, promotes synaptic plasticity integral for memory function, and mediates neurotransmission and neurotransmitter synthesis.¹⁰ Together these vital nutrients provide the structural building blocks to support the healthiest nervous system possible.

“Cuppa Tea” for Brain Power

Much research confirms that conditions such as ADHD and ASD are linked with functional disturbances of the CNS that also need to be addressed in order to achieve optimal clinical results. L-theanine is a unique amino acid found in green tea that has been found to cross the blood brain barrier within 11 minutes of ingestion; it significantly increases the power of the alpha frequency band, improving attentive brain alertness whilst maintaining a calm state.¹¹ Children’s Cognition and Learning Support provides 50mg of L-Theanine per capsule in addition to Bacopa monnieri, a traditional nervine known for its effects on cognition, mental performance and concentration.¹²

This formula also contains serine and three important B vitamins (folinic acid, vitamin B12 and pyridoxal-5-phosphate) for support of the methylation and transulphation cycle. Methylation is a crucial, ubiquitous biochemical pathway involved in heavy metal detoxification, regulation of gene expression, neurotransmitter synthesis and the conversion of homocystiene to glutathione.^{13, 14} Nutritional deficiencies, genetic polymorphisms and oxidative stress are common factors found to affect the methylation and transulphation pathways and may also contribute to developmental disorders. Figure 1 outlines how these critical nutrients are utilised in the methylation and transulphation cycle.

Children’s Gut, Liver and Detoxification Support provides support for gut repair and hepatic detoxification in children, whilst also promoting production of the primary intracellular antioxidant, glutathione. Aloe vera,2 slippery elm and marshmallow improve mucosal secretion and soothe inflamed gut walls, whilst turmeric3 and milk thistle aid in liver detoxification.4 Small citrus pectin molecules are easily absorbed across the gut wall and bind to heavy metals for excretion,5 whilst cysteine and glycine support phase II detox pathways and combine to synthesise glutathione. Due to its role in the protection against free radicals, liver detoxification and heavy metal excretion,6 adequate glutathione is essential for all aspects of the GBI axis. Even though they are just little people, kids can have a big toxic load which makes supporting gut and liver health a key component in the treatment of learning and behavioural disorders.

Dietary folate is metabolised to the bioactive form 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate, which assists in donating methyl groups to the homocysteine cycle. The methyl groups are further donated from SA Me in the homocysteine cycle which acts upon macromolecules in the cell, including DNA methylation. In addition, homocysteine can be metabolised in the transulphation cycle to create the potent antioxidant glutathione. Several B group vitamins are involved in these two pathways including folinic acid, pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P, activated vitamin B6) and vitamin B12.  

Learning to be Healthy 

Little people often have a big toxic load to carry. This combined with low intracellular antioxidant levels, heavy metal exposure, under functioning detoxification pathways and nutritional deficiencies make holistic approaches for treating childhood epidemics such as ASD and ADHD a cornerstone of successful clinical practice. Our children are our future and we need to ensure we are helping them to concentrate, learn and function in our ever evolving world, and award them the tools to promote lifelong health.

References 

1.     McGinnis WR. Oxidative stress in autism. Altern Ther Health Med. 2004 Nov-Dec; 10(6):22 - 36  

2.     Mills S, Bone K. The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. St Louis, Missouri; Churchill Livingstone: 2005  

3.     Valentine SP et al. Curcumin modulates drug metabolizing enzymes in the female Swiss Webster mouse. Life Sci 2006  

4.     British herbal Medicine Association. British Herbal Conpendium, Volume 2. BHMA; Bournemouth: 2006  

5.     Eliaz I, Weil E, Wilk B. Integrative medicine and the role of modified citrus pectin/alginates in heavy metal chelation and detoxification – five case reports. Forsch Komplementmed 2007; 14(6): 358 - 64  

6.     Rezaie A. Parker RD, Abdollahi M. Oxidative stress and pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease: an epiphenomenon of the cause? Dig Dis Sci 2007 Sep; 52(9):2015 – 21  

7.     Horrocks LA, Farooqui AA. Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation increases prefrontal cortex activation during sustained attention in healthy boys: ac placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, functional magnetic resource imaging study. Am J Clin Nutr. Apr 2010; 9 (41):1060-67  

8.     Thorne Research. Phosphotidylserine. Alt Med Rev 2008; 13(3): 245-7  

9.     Blokland A, Honig, W, Brouns F, Jolles J. Cognition-enhancing properties of subchronic phosphotidyl (PS) treatment in middle-aged rats: comparison of bovine cortex OS with egg PS and soybean PS. Nutrition. Oct 1999; 15(10):778-83  

10.   McCann JC, Ames BN. Is there convincing biological or behavioral evidence linking vitamin D deficiency to brain dysfunction? FASEB J. Apr 2008;22(4):982-1001  

11.   Nobre AC, et al. L-theanine, a natural constituent of tea, and its effects on mental state. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2008;17 (Supplement 1):167-168  

12.   Stough C, et al. The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects. Psychopharmacology (2001) 156:481-484.  

13.   Braun and Cohen. Herbs and Natural Supplements, 3rd ed., Elsevier, 2010:p 949-956.  

14.   Yanagisawa H. Zinc deficiency and clinical practice: validity of zinc preparations. Yakugaku Zasshi 2008;128(3):333-339