Glutathione - Alleviating symptoms of ASD autism spectrum disorder.
ASD autism spectrum disorder
Evidence has shown that subjects diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder have significantly lower glutathione levels than neurotypically children. The causes for this can be manifold, including an unbalanced diet. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect cells from oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which have been linked to ASD. People with ASD may have lower levels of glutathione in their brains and bodies, which could contribute to the development and progression of ASD symptoms. By supplementing with glutathione, it may be possible to increase levels of this antioxidant and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body, potentially leading to improvements in ASD symptoms.
While the underlying cause is unclear, researchers have found that ASD is associated with higher-than-normal levels of inflammation in the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. A plethora of ASD symptoms—including behavioral symptoms like irritability and selective feeding—may be caused by this inflammation. This means that if patients with autism can reduce their body’s level of inflammation with the right nutritional supplement, a broad range of interconnected symptoms may improve. A variety of supplements may potentially help control inflammation, but there is one that is particularly promising for patients with autism: glutathione.
Glutathione supplementation is a compelling approach to autism therapy on account of its powerful and safe anti-inflammatory effects. However, glutathione isn’t an anti-inflammatory in the same way that over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen are. All cells produce glutathione, making it a fully natural, biocompatible therapy that patients can use without the risk of experiencing serious side effects or negative reactions. Furthermore, glutathione affects different anti-inflammatory pathways within cells than over-the-counter drugs so, meaning that it can be used in conjunction with such drugs risk of dangerous drug interactions. More significantly, glutathione supplements bolster cells’ ability to protect themselves from things which cause inflammation in the first place, like oxidative stress, making it a particularly exciting treatment possibility.
Understanding the Need for Glutathione Supplementation
Oxidative stress occurs when cells are exposed to things that can damage DNA, like inhaled smoke or ultraviolet light. When the body encounters oxidative stress, glutathione molecules react with the molecules that are the sources of the stress, preventing them from adversely affecting cells. In the process, the glutathione itself is consumed. This means that the more oxidative stress a person experiences, the more glutathione their body will expend to protect them. In general, sources of oxidative stress are ubiquitous, and most exposure to oxidative stress has few negative consequences. Glutathione is also rapidly recycled, ensuring that there is always enough on hand to deflect potential damage. If, however, the body doesn’t have enough glutathione to protect itself, harm can occur.
When cells detect oxidative stress and are unprotected by glutathione, they cause inflammation. Patients with autism appear to have unusually high levels of oxidative stress in their brains as well as their gastrointestinal tract, which helps to explain why they experience so much inflammation in these areas. This additional oxidative stress isn’t connected to additional exposure from environmental factors; people with autism are no more likely to be exposed to UV light or cigarette smoke than anyone else. As such, researchers suspect that it may be caused by inefficient glutathione synthesis or recycling.
Indeed, studies have found that patients with autism have lower levels of free glutathione in their brains, which could explain the elevated levels of oxidative stress. It also means that their bodies are chronically dangerously short on its main tool to prevent future inflammation. While the mechanism causing this deficiency is unclear, researchers have found that it is feasible to replace the missing glutathione with a supplement, curbing
inflammation and providing multiple benefits to the patient.
The Far-Reaching Impact of Inflammation
Alleviating inflammation is critical for patients with ASD, as inflammation causes significant discomfort that has broad reaching implications for overall well-being. In the gastrointestinal tract, for example, inflammation can lead to constipation, bloating, and pain, which can cause both emotional and behavioral disturbances in response to the physical discomfort. Meanwhile, inflammation in the brain contributes to behavioral difficulties even more directly; inflammation causes reduced functioning of the brain, leading to lower cognitive performance and greater sensitivity to unwanted tactile sensations, a common symptom of autism. In fact, the relationship between neuroinflammation and autism symptoms was initially discovered in mouse models of autism, which exhibit more skittishness and more rapid withdrawal from tactile sensations when they experience more inflammation.
By reducing inflammation, glutathione supplementation has the potential to address some of the most burdensome symptoms of ASD and improve overall quality of life on a daily basis. Patients may find that they are able to communicate more effectively and experience less anxiety when their levels of inflammation are lower. Likewise, they may be less bothered by unpleasant sensations than they would be otherwise, allowing them to avoid distress and be soothed more easily. In other words, by lowering inflammation throughout the body, glutathione may help patients experience profoundly positive physical and emotional changes.
Choosing the Best Glutathione Supplement
For caregivers and patients who are interested in a multifunctional therapy which addresses autism symptoms closer to the root cause than traditional therapies, glutathione supplementation can be an exciting new treatment option. However, choosing the best supplement is essential for optimizing the benefits of glutathione. Selecting a product from a trusted manufacturer, such as Aspie+H from HealthSuppler, ensures that you are receiving a supplement that has been calibrated specifically to support the body’s ability to control oxidative stress. For many, this can be an invaluable addition to a comprehensive treatment plan, ultimately enhancing the lives of both patients and their families.