Children with epilepsy, especially those with difficult to control cases like MAE (myoclonic astatic epilepsy) also known as Doose Syndrome, need to reduce proinflammatory stressors as much as possible. The LEAP® Test (Lifestyle Eating And Performance) from Signet Diagnostics, available through Carbon Based Corporation can be an important tool to help reduce the effects of foods and food additives on many health issues and in particular seizure disorders.
The LEAP® report which is referenced in this article can be downloaded here: Anastasia Schauss LEAP® Report.
Research done by epidemiologist Shanna H. Swan of the University of Missouri in Columbia suggested that mother's who had boys and were subjected to phthalates, had subtle differences in an abnormality in a measurement known as the anogenital distance. This measurement is used by biologists to determine any hormonal disruption in fetal development. The change made the boys develop similarly to females.
According to author Theo Colborn of the University of Florida Department of Zoology, in an article published in the June 2004 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, “Increases in the prevalence of Neurodevelopmental disorders over the past 30 years make it imperative to reverse this trend. Because it appears that this trend could be partly the result of exposure to environmental contaminants, it is imperative to prevent further exposure to synthetic chemicals that are suspect.” I highly recommend reading this well written and well documented report, http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2003/6601/6601.pdf.
According to the May 2003 issue of Epidemiology, a link has been found between the urine excretion of phthalates (monobutyl and monobenzyl) and depressed sperm counts. While no direct, causative relationship was proven, the data builds upon a growing mountain of evidence that has been gathering over the past few decades. This study’s biggest impact comes from the fact that it represents the first time that very small amounts of phthalates have been implicated in male infertility.
Electrolyte imbalance is a very common finding in autistic children (as well as many people in the general population). The most common imbalances (according to Drs. Shaw and Baker) are depressed bicarbonate levels. The problem with many electrolyte solutions is their unbalanced formula. You can only take them for a short period of time before you will see definite deviations in the chemistry of the individual taking them. If its tastes excessively salty, guess what, it’s probably unbalanced due to excessive sodium and/or potassium chloride. The chloride pair can give a drink its salty nature and if you read the label of one the more popular formulas used in the alternative health community you will notice very high chloride levels which may cause bicarbonate levels to decrease, something most autistic children do not need.
