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Gut Microflora Test
Another important aspect of a
healthy, functioning gut relates to
the type of microflora (bacteria and
yeasts) that colonise our digestive
tract. Certain species are known to
be beneficial to maintaining a
healthy gut, such as Lactobacillus
and Bifidobacteria, while others
such as Clostridia and Candida
are highly detrimental.
When levels of beneficial
microflora decline, more harmful
strains take over, leading to a
situation called dysbiosis. This
microbial imbalance can cause
significant inflammation of the gut
wall and affect the digestion and
absorption of nutrients.
Elevated levels of harmful
microflora and their metabolites
indicate dysbiosis and a
malfunctioning bowel. Testing for
dysbiosis can be carried out using
a stool or urine test.
The stool test will identify and
measure the different types of
microflora found in the gut:
A GI Effects Microbial Ecology
Profile is available from Nutrition
Geeks (see Contacts) at 172.
The urine test measures
substances (metabolites) that are
specifically produced by different
types of microflora:
An Organix Dysbiosis Profile is
available from Nutrition Geeks and
costs 178.
An Intestinal Dysbiosis Markers Test
is available from Analutos at 95.
For a restricted diet
Many children with autism eat a
very limited range of foods, either
because they are on a therapeutic,
modified diet or they self-restrict
their intake because of rigid likes
and dislikes. Whatever the reason,
Diet & nutrition
An increasing number of parents are embracing
biomedical intervention to treat their loved ones
nutritional issues. Those new to the approach can
find the wealth of tests available overwhelming,
says biomedical dietician Emma Mills, who provides
an easy-to-follow guide for getting you started
Beginners guide to
biomedical testing
Parents, keen to address
concerns about the health of their
children, often ask me about the
various tests available. The issue of
testing children with autism may
have so befuddled them that they
have delayed or even dismissed
the idea of treatment that could
have profound benefits.
Perhaps you wonder why
children with autism should be
tested at all. Its worthwhile
because there is mounting
evidence to suggest that there are
significant metabolic, gastrointestinal
and nutritional differences between
autistic and neurotypical (non-
autistic) children and that these
differences can have a significant
effect on autistic behaviours. As a
practitioner, I assess each child
individually using a comprehensive
questionnaire, but certain
biomedical tests can offer
additional, useful information.
Biomedical testing involves
taking samples of urine, stool,
blood or hair and analysing them
for levels of particular substances
associated with autism. If the
levels found of these substances
are significantly higher or lower
than normal ranges, then
appropriate dietary interventions
are recommended.
Key considerations
Although every child with autism
can potentially benefit from
biomedical testing, there are some
key considerations that need to be
addressed before starting.
First, most of the tests will not be
routinely available on the National
Health Service (although its always
worth asking your GP or
consultant), so private laboratories
are used. The costs of the tests
vary considerably, depending on
what is being analysed, and range
from around 25 up to 1,000.
Second, some tests require
taking a blood sample, which can
be problematic for some children.
With biomedical testing, you
should seek the advice of a
suitably qualified practitioner to
interpret the results and give
appropriate recommendations for a
modified diet, nutritional
supplements, probiotics, prebiotics
and enzymes.
Biomedical tests are best done
when your family is in a position to
do something with the results and
with the recommendations of your
practitioner. For example, you may
wish to carry out tests following
diagnosis or when there are
significant problems such as
constipation, abdominal bloating,
diarrhoea, restrictive eating habits
or significant communication, sleep,
mood or behavioural problems.
Although it might be tempting to
get all the tests done at once, it is
better to have a more personalised,
targeted approach based on the
clinical condition of each child. Ive
outlined typical conditions below
and the tests appropriate to them.
For gut problems
Protein Intolerance Test
Some children with autism who
exhibit symptoms of gut
malfunction (such as constipation,
diarrhoea, abdominal bloating and
pain) may be suffering from a
leaky gut, which is when partially
digested proteins (peptides) pass
through the gut wall and circulate
around the brain and body. These
peptides have the potential to
adversely affect behaviour,
worsening any negative autistic
traits you child may have.
Eventually, these peptides will
be excreted from the body via the
kidneys and appear in the urine.
Peptides from the proteins gluten
(found in cereals) and casein
(found in milk and dairy foods) are
thought to be the most problematic
in autism.
The test looks for levels of IAG,
a substance produced from the
amino acid tryptophan. Individuals
with ASD who have high levels of
IAG in their urine are more likely to
respond positively when following a
gluten and casein-free diet.
The test looks for the presence
of gluten and casein-based
peptides and IAG in the urine to
indicate a leaky gut and
associated intolerance to gluten
and casein.
A positive result confirms that
the gut is not functioning properly
and that foods containing gluten
and casein are not being tolerated.
An IAG and Dietary-Derived
Peptides Test is available from
Analutos (see Contacts on page
21). The test costs 60.
Individuals with
ASD who have
high levels of IAG in
their urine are more
likely to respond
positively when
following a gluten and
casein-free diet
www.autismeye.com 21 Aut i sm| eye I ssue 9 2013
Diet & nutrition
a limited diet can lead to low levels
of key nutrients, a particularly
harmful situation in active, growing
children. Cases of severe nutritional
deficiencies have been recorded in
children with ASD (references 1, 2,
3, 4 & 5).
The severity of autism is also
associated with low levels of
calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins
B6, B3 and C (reference6).
Normalising dietary intake and
blood levels of these key nutrients
is crucial. Tests are available that
measure the levels of different
nutrients, but to be accurate they
require a blood sample.
A Plasma Mineral Profile to
measure calcium, iron, zinc,
chromium, copper, magnesium,
manganese and selenium is
available from Biolab at 60.
A Micro Nutrient Test to measure
calcium, zinc, copper, magnesium,
manganese and antioxidants, plus
vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12,
biotin, folate, C, D and K is
available from Regenerus
Laboratories at 437.
For the physically well
If your child has issues with
attention, communication or
behaviour despite being physically
well and eating a varied and
balanced diet, then an
accumulation of toxic, heavy
metals could be a significant
factor. Research has shown an
association between the severity of
autism and the relative body
burden of toxic metals such as
mercury, cadmium and lead
7
.
The body can normally get rid of
toxins by combining them with
sulphate and glutathione to
produce non-toxic substances that
can be excreted. Unfortunately,
children with autism tend to have
lower levels of sulphate and
glutathione compared with
neurotypical (non-ASD) children
6
.
This can compromise their capacity
to detoxify.
A Hair Mineral & Toxic Elements
test, using a hair sample, measures
levels of aluminium, arsenic,
cadmium, mercury and lead.
Available from Biolab at 44.
A Hair Mineral/Elements and Toxic
Elements test, using a hair sample,
measures levels of aluminium,
arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead
and antimony. Available from
Regenerus Laboratories at 59.
A Toxic Elements Screen, using a
blood or urine sample, measures
levels of aluminium, arsenic,
cadmium, mercury, lead and 13
other elements. The test is
available from Biolab at 122, or
individual elements can be
measured for 23 each.
If high levels of any toxic
elements are discovered they
could be worsening your childs
autism and chelation therapy
should be considered. Chelation is
the process by which toxic
substances, such as mercury,
cadmium and lead, are safely
removed from the body by the
oral administration of a special
agent such as DMSA. This
process should be undertaken
only by a suitably qualified
practitioner and should never be
administered intravenously, as this
can be dangerous.
Chelation therapy should never
be undertaken if there are any
underlying physical health
problems, especially if the gut, liver
or kidneys are affected.
The book Fight Autism and Win
is written by parents who have
successfully used chelation
therapy with their children and is a
useful read
8
.
CONTACTS
Tests are available from these commercial laboratories:
Analutos: www.analutos.com; Email: info@analutos.com;
Tel: 0191 516 6366
Biolab: www.biolab.co.uk; Email: reception@biolab.co.uk;
Tel: 020 7636 5959/5905
Nutrition Geeks: www.nutritiongeeks.co.uk; Email: Tel: 01865 338 045
Regenerus Laboratories: www.regeneruslabs.com;
Email: info@regeneruslabs.com; Tel: 0333 9000 979
Children with
autism tend to
have lower levels of
sulphate and
glutathione This can
compromise their
capacity to detoxify
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Emma Mills runs the
website Brain & Body
Nutrition: www.
brainandbody.co.uk
REFERENCES
1
McAbee et al, 2009: Permanent visual loss due to dietary vitamin A deficiency in an autistic adolescent, Journal of Child Neurology 24 (10) p1288-89
2
Stewart & Latif, 2008: Symptomatic nutritional rickets in a teenager with autistic spectrum disorder, Child: Care, Health and Development 34 (2) p276-8
3
Hediger et al, 2008: Reduced bone cortical thickness in boys with autism or ASD, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 38 (5) p848-56
4
Monks et al, 2002: A case of scurvy in an autistic boy, Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (1) p67-9
5
Tang et al, 2011: Severe feeding disorder and malnutrition in two children with autism, Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics 32 (3) p264-7
6
Adams et al, 2011: Nutritional and metabolic status of children with autism vs neurotypical children and the association with autism severity, Nutrition and
Metabolism (8) 34
7
Adams et al, 2009: The severity of autism is associated with toxic metal body burden and red blood cell glutathione levels, Journal of Toxicology article ID
532640
8
Fight Autism and Win: Biomedical Therapies That Actually Work! by Jan Martin and Tressie Taylor with Rebecca Claire, JRT Publishing, ISBN 061-558-2095
GLOSSARY
Probiotics: beneficial
bacteria that have been
clinically proven to reach
the bowel and exert a
positive effect.
Prebiotics: non-digestible
carbohydrates specifically
used as fuel by probiotic
bacteria, helping them
proliferate.
IAG: stands for trans-indolyl-
3-acryloylglycine, a metabolite
of the amino acid tryptophan.
DMSA: stands for
dimercaptosuccinic acid,
a chelating agent.