Colostrum for autism

Colostrum for autism

Autism, now better known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). Introducing colostrum into the daily regimen, with its many “whole food” ingredients, can have a significant positive impact on the various impairments in communication skills, social interactions and restricted, repetitive and stereotypical behavior patterns.

Autism spectrum disorders are more common in the pediatric population than some better-known diseases such as diabetes, spinal bifida or Down syndrome. A recent study in the United States estimated that 3.4 out of 1,000 children ages 3 to 10 have autism. Men are four times more likely to have autism than women.

The hallmark of autism is impaired social interaction. Even in infancy, a baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or may focus intensely on one object for long periods of time to the exclusion of others. Some affected children appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement. Children with autism also typically do not respond to their name and often avoid eye contact with other people.

Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements such as rocking and spinning, or self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-hitting. They also tend to speak later than other children and may refer to themselves instead of "I" or "I." Some affected children speak in a singsong voice about a limited number of favorite topics, without regard to the interests of the person they are speaking to. Additionally, they usually don't know how to play interactively with other children.

Children with autism spectrum disorder also have reduced pain sensitivity but are unusually sensitive to sound, touch, or other sensory stimulation. Some noises—a vacuum cleaner, a ringing phone, or a sudden storm—can cause some children to cover their ears and scream. Many of the affected children find the feeling of clothing touching their skin unbearable. These unusual reactions can lead to behavioral symptoms such as resistance to hugging or cuddling.

The most severe forms of autism spectrum disorders are Rett syndrome and childhood disintegration disorder. Rett syndrome occurs almost exclusively in women, with an incidence of one in 10,000 to 15,000. After a period of development, usually between 6 and 18 months, the child's intellectual and social development regresses - he no longer responds to his parents and withdraws from all social contact. When she has spoken, she stops; she can't control her feet; and she wrings her hands.

In addition to behavioral and social impairments, children with autism spectrum disorders often have one or more of the following complications.

• Mental disability. Some skill areas may be normal, while others may be particularly weak. • Seizures. One in four affected children develops seizures, which often begin in early childhood or adolescence. • Fragile X syndrome. A defective segment of the X chromosome is the most common form of congenital intellectual disability, affecting 2-5% of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. • Tuberous sclerosis. 1-5% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder have tuberculosis, a rare genetic disorder that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and other vital organs.

The recognition of autism as a medical syndrome more than 50 years ago led to the search for causal risk factors. Various research institutions concluded that mercury poisoning was the responsible agent due to the use of thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, in childhood vaccines. Thimerosal was never used as a preservative in some childhood vaccines (measles, mumps, polio) and was removed from others (DPT) a few years ago. Despite the fact that childhood vaccines have stopped containing thimerosal for several years, the incidence of autism increased from 0.3 per 1,000 births in 1993 to 1.5 per 1,000 births in 2003; current estimates of 3.4 per 1,000 births.

Both genetics and environment are now thought to play a role. Recent studies suggest that some people have a genetic predisposition to autism. In families with an autistic child, the risk of having a second child with the disorder is approximately 5%, which is greater than the risk for the general population. A number of genes linked to the disorder have been identified. A recent study at the University of Chicago identified a microdeletion on a specific chromosome in affected families. The microdeletion represented the loss of about 25 known genes, 12 of which are part of a single genetic network that includes genes involved in cell-to-cell signaling and interaction. At least three of these genes are expressed primarily in the brain and are thought to influence behavior. Studies at other institutions have identified microdeletions on other chromosomes with similar consequences in affected families.

Other studies of people with autism spectrum disorders have found irregularities in multiple regions of the brain. Affected individuals have also been shown to have abnormal levels of certain chemical neurotransmitters such as serotonin and glutathione in the brain. The combined abnormalities suggest that autism spectrum disorders could result from an early disruption in brain development in the fetus, caused by defects in genes that control brain growth and regulate how neurons communicate with each other. It is possible that sudden, rapid head growth is an early warning sign that leads to early diagnosis and intervention.

The life of a person with an autism spectrum disorder can often be further complicated by allergic reactions to various foods. At one time, it was believed that such allergic reactions, particularly to gluten and certain proteins found in dairy products, were the cause of the disorders. As a result, special diets have been developed and falsely promoted as “cures” for the disorders. Another complication may be the frequent occurrence of gastrointestinal infections with organisms that are part of the natural flora, especially yeast (Candida species). These problems appear to indicate that the immune system may also be compromised in some, if not all, individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

The benefits of bovine colostrum

Colostrum is an amazing material that, like many other things in nature, reflects the evolutionary development of a unique composition that meets the needs of the offspring for which it is intended. The most unique colostrum of mammalian species occurs in cattle, where there is no transfer of biological substances across the placenta to the developing fetus and everything necessary for the development of healthy, productive offspring is present in the colostrum. As such, bovine colostrum provides a specialized resource that offers the widest possible spectrum of biologically active substances that can promote the development of healthy body mass, ensure effective and efficient metabolism, and support the activation and maintenance of a fully functional immune system capable of combating possible insults from microorganisms and other harmful sources. Bovine colostrum is also compatible with almost every species and can easily provide its full benefits to humans through routine dietary supplementation without significant adverse effects.

The active ingredients contained in high-quality first milking bovine colostrum may provide significant benefits to individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

Glutathione deficiency

In addition to its role as a neurotransmitter, glutathione is the most important antioxidant produced by a cell. It is directly involved in the neutralization of free radicals and reactive oxygen compounds and keeps other antioxidants such as vitamins C and E in their active form. In addition, glutathione can interact with many organic and inorganic substances and help the body detoxify.

Glutathione ingested by mouth has negligible absorption and therefore must be produced within the cell. It is a tripeptide made up of three amino acids, cysteine, glycine and glutamic acid. Both glycine and glutamic acid are readily available in most people's diets, but cysteine ​​is not, making it the rate-limiting substance for glutathione formation within a cell. As a free amino acid, cysteine ​​is potentially toxic and is broken down in the gastrointestinal tract and blood. The most stable form of this amino acid is cystine, two cysteine ​​molecules linked together by a disulfide bond. Cystine is not broken down by stomach acid or proteolytic enzymes and is easily absorbed. It is quickly reduced to two cysteine ​​molecules when it enters a cell. In addition, cystine can cross the blood-brain barrier.

The proteins albumin, lactoferrin and lactalbumin, contained in significant amounts in first milking bovine colostrum, are excellent resources of cystine. The amount of albumin is highest in the first milking colostrum and decreases over time after birth. Transitional milk, obtained 96 hours (4 days) after the birth of the calf, contains only about 20% of the albumin contained in the first milking colostrum of cattle taken within 6 hours of birth. Thus, the first milking of bovine colostrum obtained within 6 hours of the birth of a calf contains approximately 5x more albumin than milk and therefore contributes at least 5x more cystine from albumin than milk.

Lack of immune system

Very early in life, the basis of the immune system is established in a small gland-like structure in the upper chest called the thymus. Within this structure, cells mature that determine the appropriate type of response the immune system should mount following an insult, whether from an invading microorganism or via an allergen. Cells from the thymus also regulate the quality and intensity of this response.

Colostrum is an amazing source of substances necessary to strengthen and support the immune system, potentiate the development and repair of cells and tissues. and ensure the effective and efficient metabolism of nutrients. However, it is very important to recognize that not all colostrum products are created equal and, despite the claims of their manufacturers, not all of them contain all of the beneficial components at an optimal concentration. In many cases they have been tampered with and may be missing some of the essential components. When selecting a colostrum product, it is important to ensure that it is made only from the first milking of bovine colostrum collected within 6 hours of the birth of the calf and that the colostrum is “complete” and that none of the components have been removed, including the fat.

Inspired by Dr. Anthony Kleinsmith