Diet and nutrition
“Profound effects”: Dr Derrick
Are enzymes
effective?
With a major scientific trial about to publish its
results and mounting evidence over the role
of the gut in autism, increasing numbers of
parents are trying enzymes as a treatment.
Darren Devine assesses the evidence
It was once dismissed as far-
fetched pseudoscience that only
desperate parents willing to try
anything bought into.
But experts say the idea that
autism’s roots are tied to gut health
is now firmly in the mainstream,
with far more widespread
acceptance among researchers.
Dr Derrick MacFabe, director of
Canada’s Kilee Patchell-Evans
Autism Research Group, insists
14 Au t i s m | e y e I s s u e 2 9 2 0 1 8
there is now “ample linkage
between gut and digestive
problems” and this can have
“profound effects on brain
development and behaviour”.
Alongside approaches such as
the gluten-and-casein-free diet,
probiotics and faecal transplants,
families are turning to digestive
enzymes to improve gut health.
MacFabe, whose group is
based at the University of Calgary,
I think how the
enzyme helped
is it took a burden off
his body for the time
his immune system
was so over-reactive
to everything”
www.autismeye.com
says there’s “a lot of evidence”
children with autism have
abnormalities in the way their
bodies produce digestive enzymes.
Experts say enzymes help us
absorb nutrients in food and when
they fail to function effectively it has
a damaging knock-on effect on
bacteria in the gut, the immune
system and the brain.
MacFabe says: “There’s
enormous evidence that the
www.autismeye.com
chronic diseases of the West,
allergies, obesity and autism, may
be at least in part linked to
abnormalities in these (gut)
bacteria and what they produce.”
The researcher says resolving
this problem with absorption is a
“critical” part of the treatment of
children with autism.
The body gets caught in a
“vicious cycle” where the gut
becomes imbalanced, McFabe
MacFabe of Canada’s Kilee Patchell-
Evans Autism Research Group says
there is strong evidence for links
between digestive problems and
brain development and behaviour
says. The imbalance in the gut
impacts, in turn, its ability to make
enzymes. He adds: “By trying to
supplement with some digestive
enzymes you can possibly mitigate
that vicious cycle.”
It’s arguable that of all the ways
of targeting gut health to improve
autism’s symptoms enzymes boast
the strongest weight of science
behind them.
Definitive assessment
Researchers at New York drug firm
Curemark are involved in a phase
3 trial on a food enzyme known as
CM-AT as a treatment for autism.
The company carried out an
earlier trial in 2011. This showed
that the enzyme improved
irritability. Curemark has yet to
publish the results from the phase
3 trial, which should provide a
definitive assessment of the
drug’s effectiveness.
Kim Ruckman, from California,
used digestive enzymes with son
Anthony, 10, after he was
diagnosed with autism at three
years old.
She also used the gluten-and-
casein-free diet, probiotics and the
amino acid supplements
dimethylglycine (DMG) and
trimethylglycine (TMG) after
watching her non-verbal toddler
son struggling with sensory issues
as well as autism.
Au t i s m | e y e I s s u e 2 9 2 0 1 8 15
 Hericor-MRL
Diet and nutrition

Enzyme Nutrition to Maintain

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that include mushroom-based

enzymes as a food supplement,
stresses it is still “early days” to be
sure of the effectiveness of
Huge progress: A blood test revealed that enzymes in autism.
Anthony Anthony had extensive allergies Anything that is But the firm says its mushroom-
CENAVERDE Ruckman, and sensitivities, so she withdrew based supplements MRL Coriolus
pictured with 35 different foods from his diet. cost-effective and Hericium-MRL have been

Competence in nutritional his sister

Ashley, above
Now a strong advocate of
biomedical approaches to autism,
and can really focus
on reducing
shown to reduce brain
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supplements for children

left, and with Ruckman says her son made huge
his mum Kim, progress as a result of the neuroinflammation and Cost-effective
above right. interventions. His autism diagnosis Ahern says: “Anything that is cost-
Kim says was withdrawn after he turned gastric discomfort is effective and can really focus on
Anthony’s seven and she now describes him going to be a plus for reducing neuroinflammation and
We specialise in food supplements for ailments related autism as “very typical”. gastric discomfort is going to be a
to autistic spectrum disorders including, Attention Deficit diagnosis
many patients” plus for many patients.”
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In this area we are was removed Allergies gone Another supplier of digestive
several years Ruckman, 37, admits the food enzymes is Dutch-based firm
one of the leading companies in Europe. after she began enzyme she used, Enzymedicas over-reactive to everything.” She Cenaverde, which markets vitamins,
using enzymes Digest Spectrum, did not have an has grave doubts over how far her minerals and supplements for
Cenaverde BV is your partner for premium food supplements. MEMB instant impact. But the mum, who son would have progressed without autism and pervasive developmental
OR
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We guarantee products of the highest quality and purity. number of works in social media marketing the biomedical intervention. “I don’t disorders. Bernd Esser, a senior
ER
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S OF TRE

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OU
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DISC
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knowledge directly to our clients.
TIS

ATI AU we retested his allergies, because if he would have got worse. I don’t of enzyme supplements.
We are the official European distributor for the whole range of NG
we would retest every year, they know,” she says. He says they have been shown
New Beginnings, Kirkman, BrainChild Nutritionals products, started going away.” William Ahern, owner of Aneid to be “very helpful for many years
Houston Nutraceuticals, Nordic Naturals and Enzymedica. Now Ruckman, who with UK, whose firm produces tablets in people with autism”.
More and more parents are confronted with a diagnosis of autism Our service team looks forward to software engineer husband Larry
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is it took a burden off his body for l Aneid UK: http://aneiduk.com
the time his immune system was so l Cenaverde: http://autism.cenaverde.com/products/index.php

www.autismeye.com Au t i s m | e y e I s s u e 2 9 2 0 1 8 17