Two Interesting Autism Comments
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Two Interesting Autism Comments
Date:
Sun, 20 Oct 2002 09:10:54 -0400
From:
Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide
Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Steve:
You might like to see and perhaps refer your readers to at least one NOHA NEWS article on DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!). The URL for the article in the current newsletter is:
http://www.nutrition4health.org/NOHAnews/NNF02DANMeetings.htm
Sincerely,
Marjorie
Marjorie Fisher Senior Editor, NOHA NEWS
____________________________
Good morning Steve Tvedten,
I read your posting about the well documented increasing rates of autism in California. To me, the situation is very similar to the increasing rates of CFS, FM, and MCS as well as autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus seen in civilians as well as the Gulf War Illnesses seen in veterans of the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War.
All of these situations seem to be autoimmune in nature. That means that upsets in the ability to turn on synthesis of immune system proteins that regulate our abilities to respond to foreign chemicals seem to be involved.
The ability to turn on immune protein synthesis depends on the availability of vitamin A hormone, retinoic acid. This hormone acts as a derepressor of protein synthesis. That means it uncovers genes that have to be activated by removing the protein covers that the genes (DNA) wear until activation is needed. Without vitamin A, activation can't occur.
Possible causes for a lack of vitamin A include exposures to pesticides such as organophosphates and certain pyrethroids that poison the enzymes that make vitamin A, retinol, from precursors stored in body fat. The adjuvants such as squalene which are used in vaccines have to be degraded by immune system-induced proteins. When squalene is present, it may use up so much of the vitamin A hormone that there isn't enough left over to regulate synthesis of developing neurons, another vitamin A dependent process. Finally, exposure to herbicides such as 2,4-D can poison the ability of the body to transfer vitamin A and thyroid hormones from where they are made to where they are needed.
Prevention of these effects is possible. Avoiding exposure to insecticides in the home, particularly organophosphates, is a crucial first step. The biggest uses of these insecticides are for termite, cockroach, and flea control. Avoiding the new super vaccines that contain adjuvants such as squalene is probably wise. Another approach that may be useful is to take cod liver oil, the best source of the retinyl esters which are precursors of vitamin A. Long term, abolishing use of chemicals that poison vitamin A synthesis and transport have to take place.
Curing these conditions seems not to be possibly, at least not now. Nevertheless, some individuals have found that taking cod liver oil helps them deal with the situation. Fish oil capsules may also work, although their concentration of vitamin A is lower.
Again, thanks for the posting.
Bill Plapp, Toxicologist
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