LAT: Study Links Free Radicals to the Spectrum of Autism

[DeepModem Mom]

Study Links Free Radicals to the Spectrum of Autism
A metabolic flaw may account partly for the range in severity shown in children with the developmental disorder, scientists report.

By Robert Lee Hotz, Times Staff Writer


Many autistic children share a chronic flaw in the body's natural defenses against oxygen free radicals — corrosive molecules in the body that can severely damage developing brain cells, scientists said Saturday in San Diego....

***

Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock found that a single breakdown in the body's metabolism might underlie many of the puzzling symptoms of autism, a complex developmental disability with a spectrum of behaviors....

***

Normally, the body shields itself from such damage with a chemical produced by every cell called glutathione, which neutralizes oxygen free radicals. It binds to them, altering their electron balance and sees them safely expelled from the body.

By analyzing blood samples from 95 autistic children and 75 healthy ones, researchers led by biochemist S. Jill James at the University of Arkansas determined that levels of this protective antioxidant were abnormally low in many autistic children....

***

The finding is suggestive, several experts said, because glutathione also is crucial for neutralizing toxic heavy metals such as mercury, which is found in food, the air and, at one time, a vaccine preservative called thimerosal....


http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-autism3apr03,0,1709781.story?coll=la-home-science

[diddlysquat]

1. Interesting. thank you.

[PA Democrat]

2. I was ready to post this myself. Very interesting because this study

lends support to the theory that there is a link between autism and environmental toxins like mercury.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. You're right -- a clue to the link to toxins? nt

[PA Democrat]

4. Texas study supports theory of autism mercury link

"There was a significant increase in the rates of special education students and autism rates associated with increases in environmentally released mercury. On average, for each 1000 lb of environmentally released mercury, there was a 43% increase in the rate of special education services and a 61% increase in the rate of autism."

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VH5-4FH4V4B-1&_coverDate=02%2F17%2F2005&_alid=262806690&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=6057&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=383ca02c1f80dce4f33da166e968dffb

[bahrbearian]

5. There we go Mercury Bashing again,

if it were that bad wouldn't the pres have a war against it instead of allowing more it released into the air? Just some more fuzzy science.

[postulater]

6. There we go Mercury-bashing Bashing again

[LeighAnn]

7. If they admit a mercury link, it will be impossible to deny vaccine link

They were pumping babies full of mercury back in the 90s, I remember being appalled when I read in an article, "The Hepatitis B vaccine should ideally be administered within 24 hours from birth and is safe to adminisiter even to premature infants"

I thought, "Bullshit! How do they know it's safe even for healthy babies, much less premature ones? The drug didn't exist ten years ago. There have been no long range studies!"

Then all of a sudden they discontinued using mercury in Hep B, and also they no longer vaccinate at birth. And yet there's this constant denial that the vaccines were problematic.

Hmmmm.... I'm no threat to Einstein or anything, but it would seem to be a pretty obvious case of cause and effect.

[Baconfoot]

17. No. It's an obvious case of something occurring after something else.

Just because mice often appear next to wet bags of grain doesn't mean that spontaneous generation is occurring in the wet bags of grain.

I'm just making the logical point here by the way, not asserting anything whatsoever about any link between mercury containing vaccines and autisms.

[autorank]

8. Thank you for this link. This may answer the question.

Particularly about 'thimerrosal.' There is absolutely no genetic explanation for the exponential increase in the incidence of autism other than an environmental cause. This links a predisposition with the wonderful new trash we put in the environment. Excellent link!

[reprobate]

9. Hold on here! I'm a free radical but I have nothing to do wth autism.

IOW, a free american liberal.

[Igel]

10. Interesting. But there are still some funny gaps.

An eyetracker study shows distinctive differences between autistic and "normal" (in the statistical sense, here) children at 6 months, and there's a strong correlation between head circumference increase late in the first year and in the second year with autism.

So the glutathione deficiency looks to be a predisposing factor, if symptoms start so early: toxins may worsen it, but the kid's predisposed in a certain direction. What does glutathione production, or lack thereof, depend on: genetics? developmental factors in the uterus? something else?

And how could free radicals affect head circumference growth?

Quite strange, even excluding obvious symptoms of hydrargyrophobia.

[PA Democrat]

13. IMO the metabolic flaw that would predispose one to autism

is probably genetic. This is borne out in twin studies, and by the fact that boys are 4 times more likely to have autism. But it may be that the factor in determining who actually develops autism is the amount of prenatal and/ or postnatal mercury exposure.

Also, there are often independent physical characteristics that accompany a particular developmental disorder. For example, people with Fragile X have a large prominent ears and elongated faces. People with Down Syndrome have a whole series of identifying physical characteristics.

[GarySeven]

11. FREE the RADICALS!

This is the first time I've heard of radicals being un-free somewhere. Let's start a liberation movement.

[truthisfreedom]

12. i used to be a free radical, but now i have to many ions in the fire.

sorry, bad joke.

we need more news connecting mercury to autism. period.

[baba]

14. It would be interesting to see a study on prenatal exposure.

They keep telling women of childbearing age not to eat too much fish that might have high levels of mercury. It might be interesting to see if there is a link between mercury exposure in the Mom and autism. Even if we eat it before pregnancy, it can stay in the body for up to a year!

It is unfortunate, because I love sushi! I have definitely cut down though, or get salmon and shrimp more often than tuna and mackerel.

[NVMojo]

19. I wondered the same thing ....and, damn, I love tuna!!!

[bloom]

22. I wouldn't assume that one's body gets rid of mercury even in a year.

What this study shows - about glutathione levels - if it's a genetic thing it seems possible to me that the mother might hold mercury because of her glutathione levels and then the child could hold more mercury because of his/her glutathione levels.

Are people like fish ?- fish don't get rid of it....


I agree with the poster that said the govt' has not been nearly doing it's job in regards to warning and protecting people. In fact - " EPA Delists Mercury Pollution From Power Plants As Hazard" LAST WEEK - after the study linking coal-fired plants and their mercury output with autism.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x21709

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1318974

:grr:

[DeepModem Mom]

15. Kicking this new research --

[Kadie]

16. Antioxidant Levels May be Linked to Autism

Antioxidant Levels May be Linked to Autism
By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter


SUNDAY, April 3 (HealthDay News) -- Could oxidative stress, a suspected contributor to many disease processes like heart disease and cancer, also play a role in autism?

snip...
In a recent study, autistic children were found to have significantly lower levels of an antioxidant called glutathione and its metabolic precursors.

"Glutathione is the major antioxidant in cells important for detoxification and elimination of environmental toxins, and its active form is reduced in about 80 percent of the kids with autism," said the study's lead author, S. Jill James. She is director of the biochemical genetics laboratory at Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute and a professor of pediatrics at the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.

Reduced levels of antioxidants, such as glutathione, would increase the level of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when antioxidants aren't able to clear the body of free radicals, which can damage cells in the brain, gastrointestinal tract and immune system.

more...
http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/health/feeds/hscout/2005/04/03/hscout524907.html

[flygal]

21. Well, as a breast feeding mom - I'm going to be chugging the green tea

and ditching the fish - I was told we could have one serving a week but no more! Come on America - wake up and demand a safer environment. I wonder if other countries are having this problem?

[NVMojo]

18. KICK for the Children!!!

[xxqqqzme]

20. kickin' it

more people should see this

[bloom]

23. .