Autism Symptoms Study

A raft of recent reports in professional and mass media has refocused the spotlight on the devastating effects of autism. Autism is a vexing problem with a ten-fold increase over the past 20 years in the number of children afflicted with it. Now, one in every 166 children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disease (ASD), a cluster of conditions commonly known as autism. It is for good reason that researchers, advocacy groups and the government are striving to improve the lives of children and their families, which exacts a heavy emotional, psychological and financial toll.
Autism is a complex disease in which cellular debris is not promptly removed from the brain. Since autism presents itself in a variety of ways, it is not surprising that the treatments are just as varied and numerous. Drugs ranging from anti-psychotics to stimulants to anti-convulsives have been used with unsatisfactory results. More recent investigations have emphasized afresh that factors other than what causes autism are responsible for the afflicted children. Therefore, a greater emphasis is now being placed on the management of secondary conditions common in autism sufferers.
Among the notable conditions autistic children suffer from are gastrointestinal maladies, food allergies, and heavy metals -- all of which cause anxiety, rashes, bellyaches and aggression. Hence, primary management of these conditions is gaining popularity. In fact, increasing evidence suggests that amelioration of these symptoms significantly improves quality of life of autistic children and their families.

A nutritional regimen that has shown to help restore gastrointestinal balance is inulin, a soluble fiber isolated from the root of Jerusalem artichoke. Inulin is a prebiotic that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon, and thus restores balance in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. "When intestinal floral ecology is in healthy balance, the body produces a host of substances that offset adverse events in the GI tract that aggravate symptoms of autism," says Gloria Gilbère, ND., D.A.Hom, Ph.D., who has been at the forefront of advocating the use of nutritional means to help restore intestinal balance. "Inulin is not simply a prebiotic but it also has the advantage that it can help rid the body of heavy metals as well," continued Gilbère. Dr. Gilbère has a long-term interest in detoxification of the body, and is the author of several publications, such as Invisible Illnesses and Pain/Inflammation Matters.
Inulin is marketed by Marlyn Nutraceuticals, Inc., a leading nutraceuticals manufacturer based in Phoenix, Arizona. Inulin from the root of Jerusalem artichoke is superior to that isolated from other sources. It has longer chains, which sustain growth specifically of beneficial intestinal bacteria for extended periods of time. "Initially, we developed InuFlora, our branded inulin prebiotic for intestinal floral balance," said Joe Lehmann, CEO/President, Marlyn Nutraceuticals. "We quickly realized that it also helps remove cellular debris and heavy metals from the body as well. InuFlora can be a far more effective nutritional support to remove heavy metals than drug-induced chelation," said Lehmann. Chelation (or removal) of heavy metals with drugs can cause liver problems, exacerbate gastrointestinal problems, suppress bone marrow compromising the immune response, and strip the body of zinc, an essential mineral. "The driving force of our product development is first and foremost to support the body's own defenses rather than further compromising them," said Lehmann. "As with our other products such as Wobenzym, InuFlora strengthens the body's response to metabolic attrition and helps it heal itself. Therefore, the nutritional management is a viable approach to offset the harsher realities of the disease processes." InuFlora is produced from organically grown Jerusalem artichoke by a proprietary method that retains the natural benefits of inulin.
Whereas autism has a complex clinical spectrum and requires competent clinical attention to mitigate neurological symptoms, it is becoming increasingly clear that secondary effects of the disease are just as devastating. Since the choices to manage secondary conditions are limited, especially those without side effects, nutritional management is a preferable regimen to bolster the body's healing potential.