Let's Talk About the Link Between Food and Autism Disorder

Hello, My Steem Fam!!

First post alert and I’m so excited. I’ve been pondering on the best place to carve my niche and since I’m a Food Scientist and Technologist, I believe Food, Health and Agriculture should be a great try. Big thanks to my good friend @mrbreeziewrites for introducing me to this platform where I can share and learn.

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So last month (April 2nd) was World Autism Awareness Day and I was shocked the day didn’t get as much attention as other kinds of health awareness days in Nigeria; a country where there are over 100,000 autism cases per year (strange but true). Let’s learn a little about autism before we delve into its relationship with food.

So, what is Autism?

Autism, commonly known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a severe developmental disorder that affects the ability of a person to communicate and interact.

It is a kind of disorder to which all age groups are vulnerable to be affected with, most especially the male gender.

As reported in a research carried out by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was found that 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls have ASD.

So, what are the causes and the corresponding symptoms of ASD

The exact cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is still unknown. However,it was suggested that genetic problem or some other chemical activities in the body can lead to it

Sometimes, an autistic behavior may be caused by Rubella (German measles) in the pregnant mother or exposure to other kinds of infections such as herpes, measles, syphilis, mumps, cytomegalovirus and toxoplasmosis.

Environment changes is another means by which ASD vulnerable genes gets exposed. Environments they find themselves really defines how susceptible they become to ASD according to their genetic makeup

Possible triggers include premature birth (between 26-35 weeks of pregnancy), exposure in the womb to alcohol or to certain medication, such as sodium valproate (sometimes used to treat epilepsy during pregnancy). Chemicals such as thalidomide, used for treating cancer/skin sores and preservative thimerosol which is used in childhood vaccinations may also be linked to the chemical causes of ASD development. However, chemicals account for a very small proportion of ASD cases.

Below are some other conditions are known to be associated with ASD:

Family history – Families who have had at least a child (or more) with ASD have tendencies of having other children with the condition. Research has shown that the relative recurrence risk (RR) of a child having autism is high, given that a sibling or cousin has the disease.

The parent’s age – Older parents are more susceptible to give birth to children with ASD. In fact, a recent study says that genetic mutation could occur in an older father’s sperm cells and predispose a child to autism; mutations occurring in the DNA during protein synthesis is crucial in the development of autism.

Cerebral palsy – conditions that affect the brain and nervous system, causing problems with
body movement and coordination. This condition can occur before birth, during or briefly after birth and a child with cerebral palsy does not automatically have ASD but has a very high chance of displaying autistic symptoms since both ASD and cerebral palsy are conditions that affect the brain.

Muscular dystrophy – a group of inherited genetic conditions that gradually cause weakening of the muscles; although this condition may co-occur with autistic disorder in some patients, it is not always common.

Down's syndrome – a genetic disorder that typically causes a learning disability and a range of physical abnormalities. Children with Down’s syndrome co-occurring with ASD have been grouped into two by an author based on different behavioural patterns. The first group are children who refuse to eat at all, attraction to lights/ceiling fans/fingers and tendency to stare at them for long, inability to understand and use gestures, highly repetitive speaking or inability to speak and so on. Meanwhile, the symptoms in the second group is found in older children; they become easily irritable, anxious and repeat the way they do things.

Neurofibromatosis – a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow along the nerves, brain,
and spinal cord. Some studies show that the gene (NF1) that causes neurofibromatosis is also associated with ASD in some patients; this may form a possibility for detecting specific causes of gene-related autism in some patients.

Infantile spasms – a type of epilepsy or seizure disorder that develops in very young children
(usually under one year old); this condition is very common with autistic disorder as seizure is one of the symptoms of ASD

Other conditions that have tendencies to co-occur with ASD are the rare genetic conditions fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, and Rett syndrome

Some other signs/symptoms of ASD include obsessive interests, difficulty in social interactions and communication, lack of response and/or hypersensitivity to body language and voices, speech delays, inability to make eye contacts, difficulty in handling emotions as well as difficulty in understanding things from other people’s perspectives

Other health conditions that frequently accompany autism include seizures, anxiety, phobias, hyperactivity disorders, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal disorders among others.

However, early recognition, as well as educational, behavioral and family therapies, may help reduce symptoms and support development, interaction and learning.

Now let’s see the relationship between food and autism.

The relationship between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and diet has always been a topic of discussion as well as a challenge and this is large because food can play a role in each of three distinct areas:

• Development of autism
• Manifestation of symptoms, and
• Treatment of the condition.

So, let's get talking about how Food contributes to Autism Development

It has been established previously that autism is caused by a wide range of factors such as genetic and environmental influences. Most scientists also agree that the origin of autism begins during prenatal stage while several studies have also shown strong correlations between diet-related health conditions in the mother and a higher risk of autism in the child as buttressed below.

It was noted that both type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes have been associated with a higher risk of autism. Also, if the mother meets the standards for obesity, the risk of autism increases by 21.5%, and if the mother has hypertension, the risk of autism in the child rises by 14.3%.

Another is lack of essential micronutrients; a paper published by a researcher in 2017 proposed a mechanism through which a mother’s diet-related health conditions may facilitate the development of autism. The researcher suggested that these health conditions were associated with a lower intake of some key micronutrients such as zinc, copper, iron, and vitamin B9 that may be involved in the etiology of autism.

This goes to say that insufficient intake of these nutrients along with genetic risk factors may contribute to disruptions in fetal brain development which can lead to autism. It is therefore established that the mother’s relationship with food before and during pregnancy is directly associated with the development of autism.

There’s really no cause for alarm at this stage as pregnant mothers with any of these food-related health conditions can still take action towards reducing the risk of autism for the child by making important dietary decisions that target each micronutrient.

So what signs as Related to Food can manifest as a result of Autism in a person?

A lot of patients and families experience a more concrete connection between food and autism on a daily basis; in other words, people with autism are more likely to be “selective” or “picky” eaters. Although healthy children are usually selective eaters children with autism tend to show this trait more intensely, often refusing to even try to eat certain kinds of foods and in some severe cases, their diets may be restricted to just five foods.

One of the proposed explanations for the increased problem of selective eating among patients with autism is that their sensory sensitivities are heightened.

According to some estimates, about 90% of children with autism have a different way of processing their tactile, olfactory, visual and auditory information when compared to normally-developing children.

This means that the taste, texture, smell, and even appearance of food are evident in patients with autism.

In this scenario, Selective eating can consequently lead to deficiencies in important micronutrients (such as vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, phosphorus, fiber, choline, calcium, vitamin D, and potassium) and the effect of this is more prominent in patients with autism.

For example, evidence has it that some nutrients are not easily absorbed by patients with autism, suggesting that the problem can rapidly move from inadequate intake to measurable nutrient deficiency.

Also, Nutrients are less readily absorbed in patients with autism because of the difference between the gut microbiome (microorganisms in the gut) in patients with autism and their healthy counterparts. Bacteria in the gut play a key role in nutrient absorption, and studies in both human and animal models suggest that the bacterial composition of the gut is different for patients with autism.

Can this lead to Heightened Autism Symptoms?

Food selectivity in patients with autism can also heighten other symptoms. Deficiencies in several nutrients, including methyl B12, vitamin D, and folic acid, have all been linked with the origin and major symptoms of ASD.

However, research and clinical trials have demonstrated that the gut microbiome is influenced by food choices and the health of the gut microbiome is directly related to both gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms of autism.

It was found that disorders in the gut microbiome can affect gut motility which is a common symptom of autism. A common condition amongst patient with Autism known as “Leaky Gut syndrome” is another worry. It may allow release of toxins from the microbiome into the bloodstream and impact the brain, thereby contributing to the neurological symptoms of autism.

The selective consumption of certain types of foods may also worsen symptoms of autism. Studies have shown that dietary gluten and casein are not adequately digested in the gut of patients with ASD. The resulting peptides can interfere with regular bowel motility and affect brain functioning.

In the case of patients with leaky gut, partially digested peptides may cross the intestinal barrier and build up in the brain, which can result in an opioid-like effect linked with some of the major symptoms of autism.

Let's explore the possibility of using Food as a Therapy for ASD

It shouldn’t come as a surprise anymore that diet is fast becoming the future for managing health-related issues. Due to the relationship between eating behaviors, nutritional status, and ASD, an array of food-related therapies have been proposed by researchers and practitioners. Some of the most popular are;

• Elimination of diets such as gluten-free, lactose-free and casein-free diets.
• Encouragement of consumption of foods such as probiotic-rich foods which support the health of the gut microbiome.
• In the case of patients with severe food restriction, a good approach is to boost micronutrient intake through supplementation. Taking supplements that optimize bioavailability can be an effective method to treat patients who struggle with the sensory processing of a normal, balanced diet. Research studies on supplements like methyl B12 and folic acid have been shown to offer some evidence of behavioral improvements in patients with ASD.

Let's Wrap it up

Clearly, the relationship between food and autism is definitely complicated. As we’ve seen that food can contribute to the cause of ASD and possible escalation of its symptoms. In the same vein, food, through dietary interventions also helps prevents and/or control symptoms of ASD. This possibility is now giving rise to exciting avenues for research into nutritional supplementation methods and therapies that have the potentials to improve the lives of people with autism and their families.

So dear readers, Autism is real, neither is it a foreign disease as most people think (the rate of black people with ASD is skyrocketing). Anyone can have it but if properly taken care of, can be managed. We just need to BE AWARE.

Thanks for your time! Till Next time.

References

• Capone, G. (1999). Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Look at What We Know. Can be found at [1]
• College of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
• Dryden J. (2016). Scientists link single gene to some cases of autism spectrum disorder. Neurofibromatosis (NF) center. Washington University Physicians.
• Hertz-Picciotto, I, Croen, L.A., Hansen, R., Jones, C.R., van de Water, J., Pessah, I.N. (2006). The CHARGE study: an epidemiologic investigation of genetic and environmental factors contributing to autism.
• Nick Collins (2012). New genetic link to autism. Telegraph science news.[2]
• Sven Sandin, Paul Lichtenstein, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Henrik Larsson, Christina M Hultman. and Abraham Reichenberg. (2014). The familial risk of autism. US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
• Autism Speaks Incorporated, 2018
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - Causes
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC
• Celebralpalsy Guidance
• Thalomid (thalidomide).
• The Link Between Autism and Food Presents New Possibilities for Treatment and Prevention. February 20, 2018