Food-specific IgG Antibody-guided Elimination Diets Followed by Resolution of Asthma Symptoms and Reduction in Pharmacological Interventions in Two Patients: A Case Report.

Asthma is one of the most common causes of office visits in the primary care and emergency care settings. Individuals are often able to maintain symptomatic control with long-term pharmacological therapy. Exacerbations of asthma commonly occur due to exposure to triggers such as viruses, pollutants, and allergens. While it is widely accepted that exposure to immunoglobulin E food allergens can exacerbate asthma symptoms, there is little evidence examining delayed immunoglobulin G-mediated reactions to food. Here we present two clinical cases of individuals who experienced a reduction in asthma symptoms, decreased dependence on pharmacological therapies, and increased quality of life by eliminating foods that demonstrated reactivity to immunoglobulin G levels identified through serum testing.

El asma es una de las causas más frecuentes de visita a la consulta del médico de atención primaria y a urgencias. A menudo los pacientes pueden controlar sus síntomas con tratamiento farmacológico de larga duración. Las exacerbaciones del asma ocurren por lo general debido a exposición a desencadenantes como virus, contaminantes y alérgenos. Si bien se acepta por lo general que la exposición a alérgenos alimentarios que causan la producción de inmunoglobulina E puede exacerbar los síntomas de asma, hay poca evidencia al examinar las reacciones retardadas a alimentos mediadas por inmunoglobulina G. Presentamos aquí dos casos clínicos de individuos que experimentaron una reducción de los síntomas de asma, disminución en su dependencia a tratamientos farmacológicos y una mejora en su calidad de vida eliminando alimentos que demostraron reactividad a los niveles de inmunoglobulina G identificados mediante análisis de suero.

Biomarker-guided interventions of clinically relevant conditions associated with autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are common and complex neurodevelopmental conditions. Diagnostic criteria for these conditions have traditionally relied solely on behavioral criteria without consideration for potential biomedical underpinnings. Newer evidence, however, reveals that ASDs are associated with: oxidative stress; decreased methylation capacity; limited production of glutathione; mitochondrial dysfunction; intestinal dysbiosis; increased toxic metal burden; immune dysregulation, characterized by a unique inflammatory bowel disease and immune activation of neuroglial cells; and ongoing brain hypoperfusion. Many of these same problems are common features in children with ADHD. These medical conditions, whether co-morbidities or etiopathogenic, would be expected to have synergistically negative effects on the development, cognition, focus, and attention of affected children. It is likely these biological abnormalities contribute significantly to the behavioral symptoms intrinsic in these diagnoses. However, treatment for these underlying medical disorders is clinically justified, even if no clear immediate behavioral improvements are observed. This article reviews the medical literature and discusses the authors clinical experience using various biomarkers for measuring oxidative stress, methylation capacity and transsulfuration, immune function, gastrointestinal problems, and toxic metal burden. These biomarkers provide useful guides for selection, efficacy, and sufficiency of biomedical interventions. The use of these biomarkers is of great importance in young children with ADHD or individuals of any age with ASD, because typically they cannot adequately communicate regarding their symptoms.

Safety and efficacy of oral DMSA therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders: Part A--medical results.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effect of oral dimercapto succinic acid (DMSA) therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders ages 3-8 years. METHODS: Phase 1 involved 65 children who received one round of DMSA (3 days). Participants who had high urinary excretion of toxic metals were selected to continue on to phase 2. In phase 2, 49 participants were randomly assigned in a double-blind design to receive an additional 6 rounds of either DMSA or placebo. RESULTS: DMSA greatly increased the excretion of lead, substantially increased excretion of tin and bismuth, and somewhat increased the excretion of thallium, mercury, antimony, and tungsten. There was some increase in urinary excretion of essential minerals, especially potassium and chromium. The Phase 1 single round of DMSA led to a dramatic normalization of RBC glutathione in almost all cases, and greatly improved abnormal platelet counts, suggesting a significant decrease in inflammation. CONCLUSION: Overall, DMSA therapy seems to be reasonably safe, effective in removing several toxic metals (especially lead), dramatically effective in normalizing RBC glutathione, and effective in normalizing platelet counts. Only 1 round (3 days) was sufficient to improve glutathione and platelets. Additional rounds increased excretion of toxic metals.

Safety and efficacy of oral DMSA therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders: part B - behavioral results.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effects of oral dimercapto succinic acid (DMSA) therapy on the behavioural symptoms of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) ages 3-8 years. METHODS: Phase 1 involved 65 children with ASD who received one round of DMSA (3 days). Participants who had high urinary excretion of toxic metals were selected to continue on to phase 2. In phase 2, 49 participants were randomly assigned in a double-blind design to receive an additional 6 rounds of either DMSA or placebo. RESULTS: The groups receiving one round and seven rounds of DMSA had significant improvements on all the assessment measures. For the seven round group, the degree of improvement on the assessment measures could be partially explained by a regression analysis based on excretion of toxic metals and changes in glutathione (adjusted R2 of 0.28-0.75, p < 0.02 in all cases). One round of DMSA had nearly the same benefit as seven rounds. The assessment measures correlated reasonably with one another at the beginning of the study (r = 0.60-0.87) and even better at the end of the study (r = 0.63-0.94). CONCLUSION: Overall, both one and seven rounds of DMSA therapy seems to be reasonably safe in children with ASD who have high urinary excretion of toxic metals, and possibly helpful in reducing some of the symptoms of autism in those children.

Efficacy of probiotics and nutrients in functional gastrointestinal disorders: a preliminary clinical trial.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of commonly used probiotics and nutrients available for functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). Five different combinations of probiotics and nutrients, or placebo, were taken daily over 12 weeks. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, men and women 21 to 72 years of age with FGID symptoms of indigestion, bloating, and abdominal discomfort were assigned to one of six groups, 12 patients per group. Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) for GI symptoms, SF-36, lactulose and mannitol test (LMT), and urine indican levels were evaluated. GIQLI, VAS scores, and LMT did not change significantly (P > 0.05). There were clinically notable improvements in two of the combination formulations. While the nonsignificant improvements in GI symptoms could suggest that combination probiotics and nutrients may be beneficial in conditions such as FGID, no conclusive evidence was found in this pilot trial. Further investigations to explore the findings are discussed.