How Functional Medicine may be able to Help with Autism and ADHD?

The National Autistic Society estimates around 1% of the UK population are affected by ASD. It’s around six times more common in boys, and its incidence is on the rise. ADHD is believed to affect around 5% of children globally.

No one knows exactly what causes autism, although increasing rates suggest environmental factors play a role in its development, alongside nutritional and lifestyle factors, all determining whether genetic tendencies are manifested.

Several factors can combine to increase the likelihood a child will suffer from ASD or ADHD.

• Microbiome Imbalance

Parents of children with ASD/ADHD often notice their child suffers from gastrointestinal problems, and these children tend to have fewer species of bacteria in their guts. The gut and brain are closely connected by millions of nerves.¹,²

Research in animals has revealed specific types of gut bacteria are linked to behavioural changes. When bacteria from people with autism were transplanted into mice, the animals began to display behaviour consistent with autism such as socialising less.³

• Toxins

Autistic children and those with ADHD often have accumulations of lead and mercury in their bodies. These can cause their cells’ mitochondria, their energy-producing factories, to become less efficient at producing energy for cells to use.⁴

People with autism and ADHD may be less efficient at detoxifying harmful substances because of a genetic tendency or imbalances in the gut microbiome. This makes them more vulnerable to the damaging effect of environmental toxins.

• Nutritional Deficiencies

Deficiencies in nutrients needed for brain health like B vitamins, Omega 3 fats, zinc, magnesium and selenium are common. These are often amplified by the tendency for autistic people to eat a narrow range of foods, avoiding certain textures.⁵

• Food Sensitivities

Children with ASD and ADHD frequently suffer from food sensitivities, especially to gluten and dairy. In some cases, opioid-like molecules are released when gluten and dairy foods are digested, affecting brain chemistry.

Food sensitivities are often caused by the digestive lining becoming too leaky, allowing toxins, bacteria and incompletely digested particles of food through into the bloodstream. A leaky gut also encourages autoimmune issues. It’s believed an attack by the immune system on brain cells, causing inflammation, could be a factor in some cases of autism.⁶

• Oxidative Stress

The mitochondria in each cell produce energy, and the brain needs a lot of energy to function well.  These structures are especially susceptible to oxidative stress, hindering energy production.⁷,⁸

Because autism is connected with so many potential imbalances in the body, a whole-body approach is best.

Restoring a healthy gut environment will be the starting point for therapy while correcting nutritional deficiencies, supporting detoxification, and avoiding sources of toxins from the environment, food and water.¹⁰