Autism, Yeast Candida Infections and Associated Illness’s

The liver is part of the digestive system and can produce literally hundreds of different enzymes to convert [metabolise] various nutrients, chemicals, drugs etc. Vitamins and trace minerals are also required in this process; synthesising vitamins and absorption of minerals are impaired with the autistic condition.

If the body doesn’t have a detoxification pathway for a particular substance or if the pathway is impaired, then that particular substance will accumulate.

Detoxification enzymes and xenobiotics: www-dsv.cea.fr/en/instituts/institut-de-biolo...

Genes control enzyme production. The more genes are activated, the higher the production capacity of certain enzymes Food can trigger gene activation [expression]

By understanding say a drug’s metabolic pathway, you understand which enzymes are required to metabolise and detoxify the body. If you then look at the rate of expression of the gene responsible for that enzyme, you understand how well the patient is able to process a particular drug. Enzymes are required to process environmental toxins and the same mechanisms that apply to drugs apply to environmental toxins. Depending on whether a person makes a particular enzyme will depend on how well they process certain xenobiotics (biologically active compounds absorbed from outside the body).

A healthy person with plenty of the right enzyme may have no problem with a relatively high concentration of a particular environmental toxin, while another healthy person who genetically makes far less of the enzyme may find that the toxin quickly accumulates and generates chronic illness the [part of the process of switching on genes to produce enzymes etc.; is called Methylation see the treatment section for more on this ].

This is not a genetic fault, if anything in some individuals the Autistic condition could be complicated by a genetic trait that limits enzyme production. A parallel would be: fair skinned people are more susceptible to sunburn; the problem is with each case external and acquired.

Yeast produces a highly toxic metabolite called gliotoxin. Among its toxic mechanisms it inactivates a number of important enzymes including Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) the dehydrogenase family of enzymes are needed to metabolise alcohols including acetaldehyde which is a highly toxic by-product of yeast production and is responsible for many autistic symptoms. Gliotoxin also induces apoptosis [cell death] in a variety of immune cell types and is highly immunosuppressive.

Although this particularly nasty vicious cycle explains the mechanism by which victims of autism accumulate metals it is now known that chronic infection impairs other vitally important metabolic pathways. Although research is scarce mice studies show that intestinal micro-flora is a major factor determining the excretion rate of mercury

Update July 2010… This study shouts the cause of autism as altered gut flora..” Antibiotic use is known to almost completely inhibit excretion of mercury in rats due to alteration of gut flora”

Mercury, lead, and zinc in baby teeth of children with autism versus controls.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17497416

Other research has shown that the P450 group of liver enzymes is downgraded by inflammation associated with infection.

Controlling inflammation is a primary aim in treating Autism

Mycotoxins in addition to gliotoxin are produced by yeast /fungus to destroy other micro-organisms and allow the fungus to prosper. They are substances produced as growing fungi mature and also when yeast cells are destroyed. Mycotoxins include ethanol, alloxan, arabinose, acetaldehyde, and phospholipase and proteinase enzymes. Ethanol is the basic ingredient of alcohol and acetaldehyde is its by-product. Acetaldehyde is greatly irritating to the mucous membranes and damages the liver. Carbohydrates can produce ethanol and sometimes intoxicated-like states in Candidiasis sufferers...Sometimes known as “auto brewery syndrome” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10976182 ">Read pub med extract here

Acetaldehyde disrupts immune function by depressing T-cells. Antibodies are then overproduced by B cells correspondingly, explaining hypersensitivity to chemicals, fumes and seemingly harmless substances, resulting in food allergies and intolerance.

Unhindered B cells may produce auto-antibodies which contribute to immune disorders.

Acetaldehyde attaches to amine groups of proteins, interfering with neurotransmitter production and function. This can lead to cognitive, mood and sleep disorders experienced by those with Candidiasis. Symptoms can be linked to related amino acid deficiencies needed for proper neurotransmitter production.

The enzyme Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase is inhibited by yeast and in turn suppresses breakdown of acetaldehyde in the brain, altering brain chemistry and exerting toxic effects on neuralgic tissues.

Phospholipase and proteinase are toxic enzymes produced by yeast. Phosholipase is responsible for breakdown of phospholipids. Proteinase chemically alters structural proteins, degrading PANCREATIC and INTESTINAL enzymes.

Phosholipase and proteinase break up fatty acids in the gut, generating free radicals and damaging the intestinal linings.

Dysregulated fatty acid processes lead to fatigue, neurological problems, skin dryness and rashes. Serious fatty acid symptoms can occur if this enzyme activity is not addressed.

Alloxan destroys beta cells of the pancreas over time and contributes to blood sugar problems, through insulin disturbances. In this way, over time, the destruction of beta cells could lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. Fungal problems in diabetics are well known.

Other toxins include arabinose, tyramine, canditoxin, mannan. These interfere with cellular function throughout the body. They have neurotoxic effects that could influence mood, brain function and even lead to seizures. Children with autism and ADHD are known to have high arabinose levels and other mycotoxins.

Fungal waste products as well as wastes from bacterial pathogens in the gut have been found at high levels in other conditions in addition to autism such as seizures, chronic fatigue, migraine, colitis, lupus, depression, fibromyalgia, obsessive compulsive disorder, and inflammatory bowel disorders.

[update May 2007] A yeast infection in older children and adults is known as “CHRONIC FATIGUE IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME (CFIDS)” [see Dr Cranton references] One other very telling test result is the recently found fact that Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with diminished intracellular perforin This is a hugely important find,perforin is important in immune surveillance and the homeostasis of the immune system. It’s deficiency is likely to be an important factor in both me/cfs and Autism.

In a short time the autistic child is comprehensively poisoned. Other systems/ functions can and are affected; it’s a domino effect. Among others the endocrine system is affected together with Glutathione, vitamin & mineral depletion . Looking at the history of autism it seems each one of the long list of compromised functions has been heralded as a cause of autism . That’s not the case.they are symptoms. The primary cause is a yeast infection