TriVita HCY Update – Autism & Homocysteine

 

The Alarming Connection
by Dr. Brazos Minshew

Homocysteine (HCY) is a protein that shreds your arteries, tangles the connections in your brain and shatters the foundation of your bones. Now, we can add another insult associated with homocysteine: Elevated HCY in the blood is a sign that irreparable damage may be happening in the brain. In young children it could also indicate that Autism is developing.

The rate of increase of this disease is real and frightening

In 1980, about 3 to 5 infants in 10,000 were diagnosed with Autism. By 1997, the number had significantly increased: 30 to 35 children in 10,000. More recently, in 2007, Autism Spectrum Disorder affected about 1 in 150 newborns: nearly 70 in 10,000 children. To give that some perspective, about 46 people per 10,000 contract Cancer each year.

Now that we understand the gravity of this affliction, let’s look at some facts.

One of the links between homocysteine and Autism occurs with the formation of an enzyme, methionine synthase. This enzyme is responsible for recycling toxic levels of homocysteine into a beneficial substance called methionine. Methionine serves as the foundation for healthy brain cells. If methionine never forms, then healthy brain cells can never form and connect. Excess homocysteine begins its destructive work on newly developing brain cells which can eventually lead to Autism.

The mercury and Autism connection

Since methionine is a detoxification pathway of mercury, many considered mercury poisoning to be a cause for Autism. This view gained support when high levels of mercury were found in the bloodstream of some children with Autism. However, as we have watched this trend develop over the past several years it seems that some children with Autism have a defect in the way they detoxify mercury and other toxic metals. That’s because the same substance that detoxifies homocysteine also detoxifies mercury.

Further, the effect of homocysteine in Autism is worse on boys than on girls. This is because testosterone depletes methionine synthase in boys. Estrogen and progesterone offer a little protection for this enzyme. This may explain why 8 of 10 children with Autism are boys.

Autism is an extremely complicated disorder

The complications continue when we consider the many different types and manifestations of Autism. Almost none of the 10 known genetic foundations for Autism are connected to each other. It’s as if 10 different roads connect at a central location and continue to diverge in different directions and in an unpredictable way. That is the chaos of Autism. It is also why research is focused on the common links of Autism rather than strictly on causes.

Can nutritional supplementation with HCY Guard help?

The nutrients that reduce homocysteine seem to benefit many with Autism. For instance, according to the Autism Research Institute, up to 70% of children with Autism benefit from methylcobalamin, a form of B-12 that is essential for brain development. There are also positive studies on other nutrients, such as B-6, Cysteine and DiMethylGlycine. All of these nutrients are found in TriVita’s HCY Guard.

These nutrients have benefited many people with elevated homocysteine. If you know a family affected by Autism, please feel free to share this information with them. Encourage them to ask their health care provider if HCY Guard is appropriate for their family member. However, nutrients that help one person with Autism may not help another. So, we encourage everyone to enlist the help of all the available health care professionals as we combat this epidemic.

Bottom line: Elevated homocysteine is strongly related to the development of Autism. However, there is hope because nutritional supplementation with HCY Guard helps lower homocysteine levels.

We at TriVita wish to express our sympathy and support for all families affected by this disorder. We lend our time, talents and energies in the belief that through nutrients and nurturing, we can all experience better health today and tomorrow.

Source: TriVita’s VitaJournal February 2008 pg 12