There may be a way to mitigate autism.
The latest research suggests an unexpected approach to addressing problematic behaviors in autistic children—by focusing on their pancreas. Scientists from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston highlight the crucial connection between dietary protein intake and essential brain neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. When these neurotransmitters aren’t functioning properly, it can impact children’s behavior, the research team explains.
Children on the autism spectrum often exhibit a strong preference for carbohydrate-rich foods like pasta and bread while shunning protein-rich options. However, the amino acids necessary for neurotransmitter production are primarily sourced from protein, as per the Houston team’s explanation.
Their theory revolves around providing children with a pancreatic enzyme replacement supplement. This supplement aims to enhance amino acid production by the pancreas, potentially benefiting brain function and alleviating behaviors linked to deficiencies in brain neurotransmitters.
The study, led by Deborah Pearson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, focused on 190 children aged 3 to 6 living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
In the initial three-month phase, 92 children received a specialized pancreatic enzyme replacement supplement sprinkled on their food thrice daily, while 98 received a placebo. Neither the researchers nor the children’s parents were aware of who received the supplement or placebo.
During this phase, parents of children receiving the supplement noted “significant reductions in their child’s symptoms of irritability, hyperactivity/noncompliance, and inappropriate speech,” as per the news release. No such changes were reported for children receiving the placebo.
In the subsequent six-month phase where all children received the active pancreatic enzyme replacement daily, parents reported notable improvements in irritability, hyperactivity, inappropriate speech, lethargy, and social withdrawal among their children, according to Pearson’s team.
“This study showcased that pancreatic enzymatic replacement, believed to enhance the provision of crucial amino acids essential for neurotransmitter synthesis, correlated with improved behavioral function in preschoolers with ASD, with minimal adverse effects,” Pearson highlighted.
Funded by Curemark, a developer of the pancreatic enzymatic replacement, the study was recently published in JAMA Network Open.
Discussion about this post