Families with Autism Helping Families with Autism
Detoxification, Glutathione & Autism

Disclaimer: Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) provides general information of interest to the autism community. The information comes from a variety of sources, and TACA does not independently verify any of it. The views expressed herein are not necessarily TACA's. Nothing in this document should be construed as medical advice. Always consult your child's doctor regarding his or her individual needs.

Introduction

In the autism community over the past few years, glutathione, detoxification, and all related methylation issues have been the “hot topics” at many of the Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) conferences, other conferences like Autism One, and with many of the current medical practitioners treating autism. There are also some recent, excellent studies by Drs. Jill James and Richard Deth on this highly debated and important topic as possible treatments for children on the spectrum.

The process of the methylation and detoxification are highly complex processes and still require more research. Treating children with autism with glutathione to promote detoxification is not a perfect solution or cure for autism. It could be an important piece of what may not be functioning properly in children with autism spectrum disorders.

This document attempts to provide some basic information about glutathione, reading sources, and options available for your review. It has been written by a mom of a child with autism with no credentials or medical training. I have simply provided reading materials that have helped me, research references, and personal experiences with my child. Please work with your doctor on proper testing and the unique needs of your loved one.

Overview: Glutathione and Its Potential Uses

www.drlera.com/specialty_formulas/Glutathione.htm

Glutathione

Aging 
AIDS   
Alcoholism
Atherosclerosis
Cancer 
Chemotherapy recovery
Dental fillings

Detoxifier 
Drug addiction 
Emphysema 
Glaucoma 
Hepatitis 
Hypoglycemia  
Kidney disease    

Liver disease
Liver cancer
Lungs 
Mercury poisoning 
Parkinson's disease  
Respiratory problems
Smoking
Tuberculosis 

Glutathione helps defend the body against damage from cigarette smoking, exposure to radiation, cancer chemotherapy, and toxins such as alcohol. As a detoxifier of heavy metals and drugs, it aids in the treatment of blood and liver disorders.

Glutathione protects cells in several ways. It neutralizes oxygen molecules before they can harm cells. Together with selenium, it forms the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which neutralizes hydrogen peroxide. It is also a component of another antioxidant enzyme, glutathione-S-transferase, which is a broad-spectrum liver-detoxifying enzyme.

Glutathione protects not only individual cells but also the tissues of the arteries, brain, heart, immune cells, kidneys, lenses of the eyes, liver, lungs, and skin against oxidant damage. It plays a role in preventing cancer, especially liver cancer, and may also have an anti-aging effect. Glutathione can be taken in supplement form. The production of glutathione by the body can be boosted by taking supplemental N-acetylcysteine or L-cysteine plus L-methionine. Studies suggest that taking glutathione combined with another boosting supplement may be a better way of raising glutathione levels rather than taking glutathione by itself.

Glutathione is not technically an amino acid: however, due to its close relationship is normally grouped with the amino acids. Most glutathione is found in the liver where it detoxifies many harmful compounds to be excreted thru the bile. Some glutathione is released directly by the liver into the bloodstream where it helps to maintain the strength of your red blood cells and also protecting your white blood cells.

Glutathione can also be found in the lungs and in your body’s intestinal tract system. It is required for carbohydrate metabolism. Glutathione also appears to have anti-aging effects by aiding in the breakdown of oxidized fats that may contribute to atherosclerosis. As we get, older glutathione levels in the body decrease and this can speed up  the aging process. Thus, glutathione supplementation is useful in preventing this from occurring.

Glutathione deficiency maybe indicated by: coordination problems, mental disorder, tremors, twitching, nervous system disorder, and difficulty in balancing. Currently, the deficiency is believed to be caused by lesions in the brain.

Latest Research on Glutathione

Neurotoxicology - Volume 26, Issue 1, January 2005, Pages 1-8

*Thimerosal Neurotoxicity is Associated with Glutathione Depletion:
Protection with Glutathione Precursors * *S.J. James, William Slikker III, Stepan Melnyk, Elizabeth New, Marta Pogribna and Stefanie Jernigan *

1 Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, AR 72202, USA

2 Division of Biochemical Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA

Abstract

Thimerosol is an antiseptic containing 49.5% ethyl mercury that has been used for years as a preservative in many infant vaccines and in flu vaccines. Environmental methyl mercury has been shown to be highly neurotoxic, especially to the developing brain. Because mercury has a high affinity for thiol (sulfhydryl (single bondSH)) groups, the thiol-containing antioxidant, glutathione (GSH), provides the major intracellular defense against mercury-induced neurotoxicity. Cultured neuroblastoma cells were found to have lower levels of GSH and increased sensitivity to thimerosol toxicity compared to glioblastoma cells that have higher basal levels of intracellular GSH. Thimerosal-induced cytotoxicity was associated with depletion of intracellular GSH in both cell lines. Pretreatment with 100 /?/M glutathione ethyl ester or /N/-acetylcysteine (NAC), but not methionine, resulted in a significant increase in intracellular GSH in both cell types. Further, pretreatment of the cells with glutathione ethyl ester or NAC prevented cytotoxicity with exposure to 15 /?/M Thimerosal. Although Thimerosal has been recently removed from most children's vaccines, it is still present in flu vaccines given to pregnant women, the elderly, and to children in developing countries. The potential protective effect of GSH or NAC against mercury toxicity warrants further research as possible adjunct therapy to individuals still receiving Thimerosal-containing vaccinations.

An Important Related Study to Dr. Jill James

Read Dr. Richard Deth’s studies as it relates to detoxification and metals and other research at the Autism Research Institute website.

More Important Research Papers On This Topic

[1] Wu, J et al. Mercaptoethanol and N-acetylcysteine enhance T-cell colony formation in AIDS and ARC. Clin Exp Immunol 77:7-10, 1989.

[2] Lund, ME et al. Treatment of acute methylmercury ingestion by hemodialysis with N-acetylcysteine. Toxicol Clin Toxicol 22:31-49, 1984.

[3] Henderson, P et al. N-Acetylcysteine therapy of acute heavy metal poisoning in mice. Vet Hum Toxicol 27:522-5, 1985.

[4] Keith RL, et al. Utilization of renal slices to evaluate the efficacy of chelating agents for removing mercury from the kidney. Toxicology 1997 Jan 15;116(1-3):67-75.

[5] Zalups RK, et al. Interactions between glutathione and mercury in the kidney, liver and blood. In: Chang, LW, ed. Toxicology of Metals. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1996; 145-63.

[6] Shenker BJ, et al. Mercury-induced apoptosis in human lymphoid cells: evidence that the apoptotic pathway is mercurial species dependent. Environ Res 2000 Oct;84(2):89-99.

[7] Thompson SA, et al. Modulation of glutathione and glutamate-L-cysteine ligase by methylmercury during mouse development. Toxicol Sci 2000 Sep;57(1):141-6.

[8] Gong Z, et al. Effect of chelation with meso-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) before and after he appearance of lead-induced neurotoxicity in the rat. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol1997;144:205-214.

[9] Witschi Z, et al. The systemic availability of oral glutathione. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1992;43(6):667-669.

Testing for a Glutathione Deficiency?

There is no one test that demonstrates a glutathione deficiency with 100% accuracy. But there are some good tests that your doctor can order that will provide important clues if there is a deficiency, methylation dysfunction, or inability to detoxification.

Some tests available today are:

These test kits are ordered by your doctor and via prescription only. For my family, the test results have been accurate and helped provide important clues for treatment protocols that have significantly helped my son.

Resources – What & Where to Buy Glutathione Products

Supplementing with glutathione does not always solve methylation and detoxification problems for ALL CHILDREN. But with a doctor’s assistance about dosage and various forms of glutathione, it can help many children.

Some doctors recommend glutathione in several forms: Oral (liquid or capsule), topical (a lotion or cream), nebulized (similar to an asthma treatment), or via IV (intravenous drip.) Please note: FOR SOME CHILDREN ORAL GLUTATHIONE CAN EXACERBATE YEAST AND GUT IMBALANCE. Be sure to work with your doctor on the right form for your child.

Note: I am sure there are many more sources for glutathione and similar products. These are the products I am familiar with. It is important to find sources that meet dietary restrictions (gluten-free, casein-free, dye-free, additives-free, etc.). Sometimes these additives can mask any benefits of glutathione supplementation.

Some Personal Experiences with Glutathione for One Child

My son’s medical tests demonstrated over several years along with many types of tests that he had a glutathione deficiency and other issues. Over the past four years, we have found that glutathione treatments have greatly assisted him. I have attempted to outline some of our findings for one case: my son’s.

What We Tried:

  1. We tried Oral Glutathione; it resulted in a tremendous yeast outbreak.  We also found studies that glutathione supplementation did not survive the digestive process to yield results.
  2. We tried Topical Glutathione; it caused a bad rash and undesired behaviors (this is an understatement!). At the time, there was only a soy-based topical glutathione - today you can acquire crème without soy or other allergens.
  3. We tried an initial dose of IV Glutathione: 250 mg (really an IV Push; 5-10 minutes)
    1. Some hints: We brought a portable DVD Player along, and prepared his arm with a big glob of EMLA cream prior to infusions. At the time, Jeff was 5 years old and around 40 lbs. The first treatment was in Fall 2002.
  4. Another type of glutathione administration is through a nebulizer.

Note: Nebulized and IV glutathione treatments require a doctors prescription.

More On Treatments

  1. We increased his dose of IV Glutathione to 300 mg and the dosing was given every 2-3 months (sometimes longer, see note 5).

  2. At the third infusion, we added 1 gram Vitamin C.

  3. Somewhere around the 6th infusion, we added 300 mg NAC (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine) and pushed the added Vitamin C to 2 grams.

  4. Every 4-6 months, we re-tested Plasma Cysteine levels.

  5. There was a period of 12 months when two of Jeff’s cysteine levels remained normal so we stopped the infusions during this time.

  6. Starting up again in Summer 2004, Jeff’s cysteine levels dipped low so we started with IV’s again (300mg Glutathione, 300mg NAC, and 2 grams Vitamin C. We did infusions in June, September and December that year.

  7. IV levels were increased due to Jeff’s increased age and weight. He was now 7 years old and 65 lbs (all muscle and tough!).

  8. Recently we got informed onto LipoCeutical Glutathione from Wellness Pharmacy.  It is a liquid – taken orally about 1⁄4 tsp 2 x’s daily.

Specific Behaviors, Observations and Other Important Notes

  1. When Jeff’s cysteine levels test LOW, he appears pastier in color on his face and has dark circles. He speaks a lot less and appears much more spacey and much less attentive.

  2. When cysteine levels test NORMAL, his face tone is more of a “California slightly tan,” dark circles are gone, and he speaks in VOLUMES (still delayed). He is very attentive and more interactive.

  3. NOTE: In the past, Jeff has had significant yeast issues and this adds to stimmy behaviors and affects proprioceptive input-seeking activities, which can complicate the cysteine process as well.

  4. Some more important NOTES: Jeff has responded very, very well to MB-12 (2x weekly does him much good) and TMG (tri-methyl-glycine) in higher doses. Other things like: Selenium, Magnesium, Calcium, Leucovorin, Magnesium, Coenzyme Q10, Cod Liver Oil, and L-Methionine are keys to the daily supplementation protocol.

Who Pays For IV Glutathione

I am NOT an expert on insurance. You should contact your health insurance provider on this. All coverage is different and varies by insurance provider.   Contact insurance providers well before scheduling your appointment. The out-of-pocket cost is $85-$120. Note: I have heard many times families confusing IV Glutathione with the blood product IVIG (intravenous immunoglobin). These are very, very different interventions and are NOT THE SAME!

How Is IV Glutathione Administered?

Once the IV is inserted, it takes about 10 minutes to infuse (talk with your doctor about this as well. It is recommended that you use EMLA (numbing) cream covered with a clear bandage on both arms (in case a vein is not found in one arm and have to use the other arm—you’ll be prepared). Follow the package directions for the EMLA cream and plan on having the cream in place for the necessary appointment time. EMLA cream numbs the arm and makes the child more comfortable; it is obtained via a doctor’s prescription. The OTC (over-the-counter) equivalent to EMLA is called LMX-4 (it comes as LMX-5 too). You must ask at the pharmacy counter for it even though it doesn’t require a prescription. Frequently, children do not “sit still” for an IV. You must secure/distract/beguile the child into staying still the best way you can. There are several ways to do this:

  • The best hold for the child is what my family refers to as the “log ride” hold with the husband holding the child from behind and keeping the child’s legs down while the other parent keeps the child distracted with the ultimate toys or DVD.
  • There is a device called a “papoose” which works like a straight jacket to keep the child still. Some children need deep pressure and restraints for an IV to calm them for this process. This device does NOT work for all children.

Conclusion

There is a lot to read on the topic of glutathione replacement for treating autism and in addition, more research is required. Glutathione treatments are not always recommended by all doctors. In addition, there is no one perfect way to supplement glutathione and also, these treatments do NOT help all children with autism. Medical testing with your doctor can demonstrate whether or not a child or individual with autism could possibly benefit from glutathione supplementation. My hope is to provide basic introductory research and information that I found helpful when working with my son’s doctor devising and providing different treatments to help my son’s condition. I sincerely hope this information has been valuable to you.

Disclaimer: Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) provides general information of interest to the autism community. The information comes from a variety of sources, and TACA does not independently verify any of it. The views expressed herein are not necessarily TACA's. Nothing in this document should be construed as medical advice. Always consult your child's doctor regarding his or her individual needs.

PAGE OPTIONS

• Printer Friendly Page

 

2000-2007 Talk About Curing Autism Hosted by GoLiveHost