Drs. Magryta and Grey: New Autism research

Published 12:00 am Sunday, December 3, 2017

In a recent issue of Journal Nature, Dr. Sangdoo Kim and colleagues presented some basic science research that brings us a little closer to understanding the epigenetic triggers that give us children with autism spectrum disorders.

It has been well known in primates and rodents that when a mother’s immune system is over activated, her offspring will have autism like behavioral features including repetitive activity, delayed and abnormal communication and reduced sociability.

What has been unknown to date is what are the factors involved in allowing this.

In this study, Dr. Kim has shown us that specific types of maternal intestinal bacteria promote an inflammatory response that leads to an autism-like outcome for her offspring when the mother undergoes immune system activation that is the result of an infection, or auto inflammatory disease.

Thus, we now know that bacterial flora in an animal’s intestine influences the immune system to abnormally respond to infectious organisms, leading to a cascade of detrimental events.

How do we translate this research to everyday action? That answer is still hypothetical, however, we will give you our two cents.

We know that autism has been on the rise for decades, paralleling many other disorders of inflammation, from obesity to Alzheimers disease to coronary artery disease. The human micro biome has been assaulted for decades from antibiotic overuse, American style flour- and sugar-based diets, antacid overuse, infant cow-based formula feeding, mode of child birth and many other problems.

What this research allows us to do is link the causes of the abnormal human micro biome to the model in rodents as a picture of our own demise. If, as we believe, many mothers are developing dysfunctional microbial flora in their intestines from known risk factors — and they are thus at higher risk for infections and auto inflammation — then it would likely follow that a major reason for our autism epidemic is this gut micro biome immune over-activation in mothers while pregnant.

What is still missing from this story is what are the exact microbes that raise our risk and how do we prevent their proliferation in our intestines?

The specific answer will follow as this research evolves. However, based on data to date, it is clear that we need to reverse all of the known risk factors for an abnormal micro biome, which in turn gives us the best chance in modern America to reverse this tragic trend of Autism.

We are convinced that the maternal diet is the key to a successful outcome. What is also clear from this research is that, yet again, vaccines are nowhere in sight of true scientific research with links to autism.

What can you do as a mother to be?

1) Avoid all antibiotics, antacids and non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs where possible before becoming pregnant and during pregnancy.

2) Eat a predominantly plant-based whole foods diet like Dr. Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet. This means shunning flour and sugary “white” foods.

3) Avoid non-nutritive sweeteners like saccharin, aspartame and sucralose.

4) Avoid endocrine- disrupting chemicals

https://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors#.WiA6qYV4HYx

Dr. Chris Magryta is a physician at Salisbury Pediatric Associates. Contact him at newsletter@salisburypediatrics.com

Dr. Erin Grey is a physician at Novant Health Carolina Women’s Health Associates.