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Treating Autism with Stem Cells, Immune Support, Nutrition and Anti-fungals.

David A Steenblock, M.S., D.O.

Overview of Contributing Factors

Beyond Genetics – Things We Can Change Now

• Diet
• Viral Infection
• Leaky Gut
• Candida
• Heavy Metal Toxicity
• Thyroid Function
• Liver Detoxification
• Neurological Disturbances

Autism Rates on the Rise

For the state of California, the incidence of autism is rising rapidly, increasing 258% in the last five years, and 36% in 1999 alone. Currently 1 in 258 children in California is diagnosed with autism (according to the strict DSM-IV criteria).

The DAN Protocol

Eliminate Dairy Products
• Eliminate Cereal Grain Products
• Eliminate Refined Sugars
• Discontinue Prozac or Ritalin before beginning Secretin infusions

The Dan Protocol (continued) Supplement the diet with vitamins and minerals

• Calcium: 30 mg twice a day
• Magnesium: 50 mg twice a day
• Vitamin C: 50 mg twice a day
• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): 500 mg twice a day
• DMG: 125 mg twice a day
• Pycnogenol: 50 mg twice a day
• GABA: 75 mg twice a day

1. Sugar and Candida

Sugar enhances the proliferation of bacteria and yeast in the intestinal tract, which contributes to candidiasis, gut dysbiosis (anerobic overgrowth), nutritional deficiencies, immune dysfunction, and brain toxicity.

2. Sugar and Hypoglycemia

When we consume soft drinks, sweets and refined foods, it stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin. Chronic stimulation of the pancreas leads to an overproduction of insulin and a rebound effect of reduced glucose in the blood (hypoglycemia) and brain (neuroglycopenia).

Hypoglycemia triggers a stress alarm that increases adrenalin and excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain that promotes free radical damage and neuronal death.

3. Insulin and Heavy Metal Toxicity

Insulin not only stimulates the intake of glucose and amino acids, it also increases cell receptors to heavy metals. This includes the cell receptors in the brain.

4. Leaky Gut

Alterations in body chemistry are largely due to a damaged, chronically-irritated GI tract caused by:

• Vaccinations
• Heavy metals, particularly mercury
• Antibiotics, resulting in Candida and bacterial overgrowth
• Chronic viral, bacterial and parasitic infections
• Milk, BROW (glutein) allergies
• Stress induced hyperacidity
• Allergic reactions to gut bacteria and yeast, etc.
• Urinary indican test is positive (dark color reflects bacterial overgrowth & tryptophan malabsorption)
• Chewing food stimulates Epidermal Growth Factor that helps to heal the epithelial lining of the gut
• Undigested protein turns to ammonia
• Colostrum – high in Motilin (should be casein free). Motilin is a neurotransmitter found in areas of the brain (in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum) associated with brain abnormalities in autism

5. Nutrient Absorption

Before trying Secretin, try:

• Betaine Hydrochloric Acid
• Zinc Supplementation
• Digestive Enzymes
• Thyroid support if hypothyroid
• Promoting Friendly bacteria in gut with Probiotics (Bifidobacteria and Lactobaccilus)
• Secretin (continued)
• Secretin can have negative effects if not supplemented with fatty acids and vitamins and minerals
• Secretin may have no effect if HCl is deficient.

HCl

Lemon or apple cider vinegar in water can assist with acid content and breakdown of food. May get the same results with increasing HCl as with Secretin.

Help with Diarrhea

• Fiber
• Reduce sugar/apple juice
• Try buttermilk and bananas
• Yogurt
• Whey
• Garlic
• Carob (but not chocolate)
• Slippery Elm

Help with Constipation

• Pure Water
• Cascara sagrada
• Cabbage juice
• Prunes

Allergies

• Milk products and casein can elicit allergic reactions
• Soy products may also be allergenic
• Soy formula has fluoride and aluminum
• Flouride inhibits zinc
• Soy lacks methionine (a sulfur amino acid)
• Rice milk – high glycemic food

Thyroid Support

• Vitamin A (cod liver oil)
• Cysteine
• Zinc
• Iodine
• Iron (sequestered to liver in infections)
• selenium
• Glutathione
• Reduced Copper

Low Thyroid = Low Muscle Tone

Liver Support

Liver detoxification problems occur in autistic children which impairs their ability to excrete heavy metals and chemical toxins, as well as waste products from the body’s metabolism. This may account for most, if not all of the neurologic damage that gives rise to autistic behavior.

For Phase I - Cytochrome P450 Detoxification Enzymes:

• Phosphatidylcholine
• Milk Thistle
• Ginger
• Dandelion
• Turmeric
• Pregnenolone

For Phase II – Phenol-sulphotransferase enzymes

Overloaded by chocolate, bananas, orange juice, vanillin, and food colorings

Lack of cysteine or inability to metabolize it will produce chemical sensitivities and food allergies – leads to build up of heavy metals and free radical damage

Normalize metabolism of methionine into cysteine with:

• Vitamins B2, B6, B12, folic acid
• Magnesium
• TMG
• Vitamin C
• Cabbage family if not sensitive to phenols/sulfur
• Epsom salt baths increase sulfur – improves calmness, pain relief and sleep.
• Willis Langford, “A Comprehensive Guide to Managing Autism”

6. Killing Off the Candida

• Candida produces neurotoxins
• Candida binds with B vitamins, particularly vitamin B6 which interferes with the production of serotonin, melatonin, and other neurotransmitters
• Caprylic acid is a natural fatty acid that kills candida (1-2 grams with meals)
• Antifungals will not be successful without removing sugars from the diet
• Homeopathics
• Candida Specific Transfer Factor
• Echinacea (do not use if allergic to daisies)
• Non sweetened Cranberries

7. Allergies and Opioids

• Gluten and casein raise opioid levels
• Opioids reduce cAMP, reducing the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin
• Instead, tryptophan takes alternative pathways and is excreted as urinary IAG (indolyl acryloyl glycine) and 3-indoleacetate.
• Increased IAG can contribute to leaky gut and perhaps increased blood brain barrier permeability

8. Mineral Balance

• Check for electrolyte balance – (sodium-potassium-magnesium-calcium)
• Check for zinc/copper balance - Zinc deficieny in about 90% of autistic cases - Copper excess is an indicator of candida and candida is increased with mercury toxicity

9. Adrenal Support & Copper

Adrenal insufficiency is seen in 70-80% of autistic children, resulting from stress. Stress, lead and mercury interfere with ceruloplasmin synthesis, contributing to copper toxicity. Copper toxicity causes “mind racing” – an increase in excitatory neurotransmitters resulting in an inability to stop thoughts.

(Willis Langford “A Comprehensive Guide to Managing Autism”)

Avoid High Copper Foods

• Soy
• Liver
• Chocolate
• Dairy Products
• Raw oysters
• Lobster

Magnesium. Magnesium regulates calcium and potassium and protects the cell from

• Aluminum
• Mercury
• Lead
• Cadmium
• Beryllium
• Nickel

Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include:

• Neuromuscular hyperexcitability
• Muscle cramps and spasms
• Hyperarousal with sensitivity to noise, bodily contact and excitement
• Asthma
• Seizures
• Hearing Loss
• Heart Disease

10. Mercury

• Adversely affects detoxification systems, by binding to metallothionine, cytochrome P-450 and bile, preventing these from being able to clear the system of other metals such as lead, cadmium and aluminum.
• Many childhood vaccines used to contain 12.5-25 ug of thimerosal, so that a fully-vaccinated child could receive up to 237.5 ug of thimerosal .
• Dental amalgams: usually emit 1-10 ug/day; amount of mercury in brain strongly correlated with number of dental fillings; could release much more when first placed or removed.
• Induces free radical damage and lipid peroxidation
• Depletes system of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase
• Causes immune dysfunction and autoimmune disorders

Mercury in Seafood - highest levels

SPECIES / MEAN (PPM)

Shark 0.96
King Mackerel 0.73
Tilefish 1.45

Mercury in Seafood - Lower Levels
SPECIES / MEAN (PPM)
Tuna (fresh or frozen) 0.32
Halibut 0.23
Sablefish 0.22
Pollock 0.20
Tuna (canned) 0.17
Crab Blue 0.17
Scallop 0.05
Catfish 0.07
Salmon ND
Oysters ND
Shrimp ND

Mercury (continued)

• Impairs neutrophil activity, inhibiting the body’s ability to kill Candida albicans
• Reduces lithium that helps protect brain cells from excess glutamate and oxidative stress. Lithium is also important in the release of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine and vitamin B12 transport.

Impairment of neutrophils reduces the body’s ability to combat viruses such as:

• Epstein-Barr virus
• Cytomegalovirus
• Human Herpes Virus 6
• Chronic infection from measles vaccine
• “Mercury is considered to be a developmental toxicant. … The symptoms observed in offspring of exposed mothers are primarily neurological in origin and have ranged from delays in motor and verbal development to severe brain damage.”
• “The infant may be born apparently normal, but later show effects that may range from the infant being slower to reach developmental milestones, such as the age of first walking and talking, to more severe effects including brain damage with mental retardation, in coordination, and inability to move.”
• “Other severe effects observed in children whose mothers were exposed to very toxic levels of mercury during pregnancy include eventual blindness, involuntary muscle contractions and seizures, muscle weakness, and inability to speak.”
• …the severity of these effects depends upon the level of mercury exposure and the time of dose.”

In a paper published in Medical Hypothesis titled “Autism: A Novel Type of Mercury Poisoning”, the authors discuss the many similarities between autism and mercury toxicity, including:

• Psychiatric Disturbances: social withdrawal; repetitive behaviors; anxiety; irritability; poor eye contact
• Speech/Language Deficits: loss of speech or delayed speech; speech comprehension deficits
• Sensory Abnormalities: oral, touch, light and sound sensitivities
• Motor Disorders: flapping motions; poor coordination; abnormal gait
• Cognitive Impairments: low intelligence; poor memory; difficulty with abstract ideas
• Unusual Behaviors: self-injurious; sleep difficulties; ADHD
• Physical Disturbances: gastrointestinal disorders
• Biochemistry: reduced glutathione; decreased detoxification ability of liver; disrupted purine metabolism;
• Immune System: increased likelihood of auto-immune response, allergies, and asthma
• CNS Structure: mercury accumulates in amygdala, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and cerebral cortex, which are damaged in autism; mercury also damages Purkinje and granule cells (seen in autism); disruption of neuronal organization
• Neurochemistry: decreased serotonin synthesis; elevated norepinephrine and epinephrine; demyelination
• Neurophysiology: abnormal EEGs; abnormal vestibular nystagmus response
• Gender bias: higher occurrence in males than in females

Bernard et al, Medical Hypothesis 56(4) 462-471 (2001)

• Combined Toxicity of Lead and Mercury
• Since lead, mercury, and other heavy metals are excreted by the same mechanism, then a combined dose is more dangerous
• Humans are usually exposed to many toxic metals simultaneously, but most toxicology tests are done on individual metals

Bradstreet

• Bradstreet used a 3-day, 30 mg/kg-day DMSA treatment in roughly 200 children with autism and 19 controls. He found that children with ASD excreted 5 times as much mercury as the controls.
• This data suggests that ASD children have inhibited ability to excrete heavy metals

Mercury can be chelated (gradually) by

• N-acetyl-L-cysteine
• Aloe
• Chinese parsley (Cilantro)
• Selenium
• Garlic
• Zinc
• Magnesium
• Glutathione, lipoic acid
• Vitamin B6, C, E
• DMSA, DMPS, ?i.v. EDTA

Mercury, Infection and Oxidative Stress

• Various viruses induce interferon alpha, interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha to kill Natural Killer Cells.
• Autistic children have higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines

11. Oxidative Stress

• Vaccines and chronic infection deplete system of vitamin A and zinc
• Commercial baby foods still contain glutamate as hydrolyzed vegetable protein (instead of MSG)
• Aspartame can be toxic, lowering the seizure threshold and depleting serotonin

Never Allow a Child to be Vaccinated if he/she has had a Recent Infection or Sickness or is currently ill.

Ask if the Vaccine to be given contains Thimerosal (Mercury). Get it in writing!

Never accept more than one shot per day and no more often than every month.

Pumping 5-10 viruses into a child in one day with mercury,aluminum and formaldehyde is criminal

13. Seizures

• Selenium – 10 mcg/kg body weight for 6 months can reduce infections and increase IgG-2 and IgG-4 – low blood levels of these antibodies are associated with seizures.
• Selenium and vitamin E can reduce some types of seizures. Selenium also reduces mercury toxicity.
• Anti-seizure medications such as Phenobarbital and phenytoin (Dilantin) may cause irritability, depression or aggressive behaviors (biting, pinching, kicking).

14. Antioxidants

• Free Radical Damage reduces urea/uric acid levels that function as antioxidants. Low uric acid levels can also inhibit axonal growth in the brain.
• Inosine, a precursor of uric acid, can promote axonal growth and “re-wiring.”
• Glutathione – helps eliminate pollutants and toxins, and free radicals - Found in fish, beans, parsley, spinach, asparagus, avocados and walnuts - depleted by mercury and Tylenol - Requires vitamin B2, B6, zinc and selenium for synthesis - Increased by vitamin C, E, glutamine, Milk Thistle, alpha lipoic acid, N-acetyl carntine, SAMe, garlic, dandelion, lysine.

Medicinal Foods that are High in Antioxidants

• Kale
• Spinach
• Brussels Sprouts
• Alfalfa Sprouts
• Broccoli
• Beets
• Onions
• Blueberries
• Red grapes (with plain yogurt)

15. Fatty Acid Metabolism. Supplementing with Cod Liver Oil (bioavailable vitamin A) and Evening Primrose Oil (GLA) can

• Help alleviate hypersensitivity and hyperactivity
• Improve immune function
• Improve vision
• Improve muscle tone
• Improve social contact
• Improve remyelination

16. Lead Toxicity

• Lead- most widespread case of heavy metal poisoning
• Loss of 4-7 IQ points per 10 ug
• Children excrete heavy metals less efficiently than adults (adults retain only 1%, children retain 33%)
• Lead crosses the placenta. There is no blood/brain barrier in fetuses to stop the lead from damaging the developing brain
• Low calcium serum levels in mothers can result in the release of lead stored in bone (Bone is broken down and calcium plus any lead present is released)

17. Arsenic

• Arsenic concentrations in leaves may be higher if arsenic pesticides have been used.
• According to a 1999 study by the National Academy of Sciences, “arsenic in drinking water causes bladder, lung, and skin cancer, and may cause kidney and liver cancer. The study also found that arsenic harms the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as heart and blood vessels, and causes serious skin problems. It may also cause birth defects and reproductive problems.”

18. Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior

• Inositol (part of B complex)
• Tryptophan foods -turkey, bananas, Complex carbohydrates, nuts
• Serotonin foods – grapes, avocado, tomato, orange, plums, pineapple, bananas, spinach (if not sensitive to these foods).
• Magnesium and vitamin B6 help conserve serotonin
• Exercise raises tryptophan, serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain
• Sufficient pure water

GSH levels and in the relative activity and gene expression of a variety of redox active enzymes either in cultured human keratinocytes or human fibroblasts. These results show that even low, relatively non-toxic concentrations of arsenic can directly modulate cellular redox activity which, in turn, may alter cellular signaling and other aspects of intermediary metabolism and thereby contribute to the carcinogenic process.”

19. Stress Reduction

• Autistic children with high cortisol levels have 14% smaller hippocampus (kills neurons and stem cells needed for learning and memory)
• Reduce cortisol with: - 100-200 mcg chromium - 400 mg magnesium - 50 mg pantothenic acid - 500 mg vitamin C - DHEA and pregnenolone - Back Rubs (TLC) - Behavior modification through singing songs

20. Sleep Disturbances

• Light, electrical equipment (electric clocks) and environmental EMF can deplete melatonin levels
• A third of autistic children who had sleep apnea also were prone to seizures.
• ½ mg of melatonin can restore sleep patterns, promote the absorption of zinc, stimulate the thyroid, protect against mercury toxicity and neural damage and reduce free radical damage.

21. pH

Check for blood and urine pH: - If blood is alkaline, oxygen is not being released from the red blood cells - Then supplement with bicarbonate-promoting products to balance pH. - Glutathione deficiency can cause alkalosis.

22. Oxygen

• Low oxygen levels are usually seen in autistic children. The lower the energy production (ATP), the more susceptible the cell is to excitotoxicity and injury.
• If oxygen supplements don’t work to release oxygen into the brain tissue and improve mental clarity, try hyperbaric oxygen!

Hyperbaric Oxygen

• Helps kill off yeast and other pathogens
• Increases oxygen to areas of the brain that are ischemic (lack of blood flow)
• Improves sleep patterns, usually disturbed by oxygen deficiency
• Promotes calmness and feelings of well-being
• Cleans up damaged brain tissues
• Makes new blood vessels into areas of poor blood flow in the brain.
• Heals the stomach, duodenum and bowel.
• Decreases “Leaky gut” syndrome

23. STEM CELLS

Stem Cells and Depression. Depression is one of the factors that is alleviated with stem cell therapy and depression is associated with factors that injure or inhibit stem cell growth.

Stem Cells and Remyelination. Demyelination is often seen in autistic patients, causing a disruption in nerve transmission.

• Mercury and lead can cause progressive myelin degeneration
• Damaged blood vessels causes decreased oxygenation of brain white matter. Myelin cannot form. Demyelination occurs.

Stem Cells and Brain Repair. Multipotent 133 cells from umbilical cord blood are capable of spontaneously transforming into neurons, glia, astrocytes, and pancreatic cells. The stem cells migrate to those areas of inflammation, then proliferate and differentiate into cells that are needed to heal the problem.

Stem Cell Case Study

Elizabeth was born with Cerebral Palsy. She did not breathe for 28 minutes after birth. She experienced significant developmental delay and visual problems. She is now in kindergarten. In November, 2002, she was given an injection of umbilical cord-derived stem cells.

Since the stem cell therapy, she has been able to:

• Focus and concentrate better
• She is now able to walk with a quad cane
• Can count to 24
• Beginning to follow flash cards
• Vision is gradually improving
• Improvement in speech
• Better interaction with her siblings
• Improvement in feeding herself
• Appreciates jokes and humor now
• Can hold a crayon now – improved fine motor coordination

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