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Updated on January 4, 2023
Ulcerative colitis, the most common inflammatory bowel disease, can significantly interfere with quality of life for patients and families. Because there is no cure, patients are forced to cope with a wide range of symptoms—from chronic diarrhea to fatigue to eye irritation to joint pain. These symptoms typically worsen over time, and even patients who achieve remission are constantly at risk of unexpected flare-ups.
Conventional treatment options for ulcerative colitis include anti-inflammatory medications like aminosalicylates and corticosteroids, as well as other drugs like antibiotics and methotrexate. However, the side effects and questionable efficacy of some of these drugs have driven more patients and families to seek more natural options, such as nutritional support through supplementation. Because of the high demand among patients and families for natural ulcerative colitis therapies, a plethora of recommendations for such treatment methods can be found online. However, only a few of these options are backed by empirical evidence. When considering the possibilities for natural ulcerative colitis therapy, it is helpful to know what researchers have uncovered about some of the more promising options.
The idea of using nutritional supplementation as natural therapies for ulcerative colitis has been discussed within the research community for decades, and some supplements are now backed by limited scientific evidence. In the late 1980s, for example, scientists began examining the potential therapeutic effects of fish oils for ulcerative colitis patients. Because fish oils are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which have well-documented positive effects on inflammatory response, researchers hypothesized they might be able to address inflammation in the GI tracts of patients with ulcerative colitis. However, clinical evidence supporting this hypothesis remains mixed, and scientists are still attempting to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms through which fish oil supplements address the inflammatory response of patients with ulcerative colitis.
More recently, scientists have been studying how curcumin, another natural compound, can affect patients with ulcerative colitis. Curcumin is best known as the active chemical constituent in turmeric, a common spice, but it also holds potential in therapeutic applications for a wide range of inflammation-related conditions. Although only a few rigorous research studies have been conducted so far, early evidence suggests that curcumin supplements can provide nutritional support in patients with ulcerative colitis. This might be particularly true of highly bioavailable curcumin supplements designed to optimize therapeutic benefits.
Over the last few years, probiotic supplements have become a growing area of interest for researchers studying natural therapies for ulcerative colitis. Understanding the connection between probiotic supplements and the inflammation that characterizes ulcerative colitis has long been a goal for researchers. Currently, it appears that multiple factors play a role. By lining the intestinal tract and promoting the production of intestinal mucus, probiotics can help prevent “bad” bacteria from colonizing the gut microbiome.
Probiotics might also support the production of anti-inflammatory compounds and limit the activities of pro-inflammatory mediators. In a 2017 breakthrough study out of the University of North Carolina, researchers demonstrated a clear link between probiotics and NLRP12, a protein that normally suppresses inflammatory signals. They found that patients with ulcerative colitis had low levels of NLRP2 and microbial gut profiles that included more bacterial strains known to drive inflammation, such as Erysipelotrichaceae. Importantly, when protective bacteria known to produce anti-inflammatory compounds, such as Lachnospiraceae, were added to the gut microbiome, the scientists were able to reverse the effects of the low levels of NLRP2. Based on this success, there are now exciting opportunities for more studies on the effectiveness of probiotic supplementation as a natural therapy for ulcerative colitis.
Although a variety of bacterial strains have been studied, two strains in particular—Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 and VSL #3—have strong evidence from multiple studies supporting their efficacy for the prevention and treatment of mild to moderate cases of ulcerative colitis. In several trials, they have been shown to reduce disease activity and/or lower the risk of remission, although it is not entirely clear why these two bacterial strains stand out among the rest; some researchers suspect it is a lack of rigorous research on other strains. Future randomized, controlled trials might demonstrate that other strains can be just as effective.
As in all gastrointestinal treatments, the efficacy of particular bacterial strains might also depend on the microbial composition of an individual patient’s gut. As such, some researchers are recommending probiotic-based, natural therapies for ulcerative colitis that are tailored to the patient’s microbiome. The idea is that the microbial composition of the patient’s gut will be examined, and the patient’s probiotic supplementation regimen will be determined based on the particular beneficial strains lacking from that microbiome. Ideally, this strategic supplementation would make the patient’s microbiome look like that of a healthy patient.
Among the many botanical supplements that have been proposed for the treatment of ulcerative colitis—most of which remain unsubstantiated by rigorous research—ginseng appears to be one of the most promising. Preliminary research suggests that ginseng has direct anti-inflammatory effects and can also support the gut microbiome. In one study, researchers identified a specific biochemical mechanism through which ginseng can reduce inflammation: by promoting the apoptosis (controlled cell death) of inflammatory cells. Additionally, there is evidence indicating that ginseng supports the growth of beneficial gut bacteria in vitro and in rat models of ulcerative colitis.
Certain fiber supplements—including oat bran, wheat bran, psyllium, and germinated barley—have been associated with declines in disease activity in small-scale studies of ulcerative colitis patients. In addition to the general observation that fiber consumption is associated with a reduction in system-wide inflammatory markers, there is evidence that suggests that fiber supplements directly support “good” gut bacteria. For instance, in one study, an oat bran supplement significantly increased stool concentrations of butyric acid, a compound known to be produced by beneficial bacteria and that can have a beneficial action on inflammatory response in the GI tract through a variety of mechanisms.
Although the supplementation options for patients with ulcerative colitis abound, the possible dietary interventions are even more numerous. With a quick online search, patients can find everything from strict exclusion diets to general guidelines for foods to avoid. And although some patients have found relief from options like low-residue or semi-vegetarian diets, research-based evidence supporting these strategies is limited. With rigorous research lacking that supports specific dietary interventions, many health professionals remain skeptical. Patients can certainly adopt a diet if they find it makes them feel better, but more extensive clinical studies are needed before the research and clinical communities embrace any single ulcerative colitis diet.
The research supporting regular exercise as a natural therapy for ulcerative colitis is more concrete. From a biochemical perspective, exercise causes muscle cells to release myokines, which are small proteins that combat inflammation. Exercise is also a well-known stress reliever, and effective stress management can aid in the prevention and management of ulcerative colitis flare-ups. Plus, exercise can naturally combat some of the most common complications of ulcerative colitis, including low bone density, mental health problems, and weight management challenges. Although some clinical studies indicate the physical activity of some ulcerative colitis patients can be limited by the severity of their symptoms, the results are generally positive for patients who are able to engage in general exercise.
With so many natural therapy options for ulcerative colitis available, it can be a challenge for patients and practitioners to identify the most effective combination for each particular case. Based on the existing research, high-quality nutritional supplements that have beneficial inflammatory response properties and/or support the health of the gut microbiome can be a great place to start. Lifestyle interventions like diet and exercise can also be effective on a case-by-case basis. As future clinical studies provide more evidence for or against specific interventions, it will become easier for patients and practitioners to navigate the many options and create treatment plans that provide meaningful and durable symptom relief.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing bioavailability and absorption, and micro-dosing of multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Visit our website for more information about how Tesseract’s products can help support your gastrointestinal health.*
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Updated on December 22, 2022
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are debilitating diseases that occur when gut microbiota cause inflammation of the epithelial cells in the GI tract. Although the exact causes of IBDs remain unknown, researchers believe that dietary and genetic factors play a role.
Although IBDs are typically treated via surgery or antibiotics, these options are often less than ideal. Surgery can be painful and requires extensive recovery time, whereas antibiotics can cause digestion difficulties due to their destruction of essential gut bacteria. As such, less invasive options are under active investigation, many of which focus on dietary manipulation of the gut microbiome to alleviate IBD symptoms. Unfortunately, the majority of such studies have primarily examined older specialty diets rather than attempting to investigate and develop new, more effective therapeutic diets. But in recent years, compelling evidence is emerging that supports more modern dietary interventions for individuals who seek to alleviate IBD symptoms noninvasively.
For decades, researchers have proposed and evaluated a variety of diets to find one that would alleviate IBD symptoms. The majority of these diets focus on modulating the amount of fiber, carbohydrates, and protein consumed by the patient. In a 2013 review, Drs. Jason K. Hou, Dale Less, and James Lewis examined the efficacy of these diets to gain greater insight into the possibilities of dietary manipulation of the gut microbiome in IBD patients.
Most IBD diets fall into one of two categories: low fiber diets or high protein diets. There is significant overlap between the two, and both are premised in the belief that IBD patients should avoid providing their compromised gut microbiomes with carbohydrates that could be fermented to cause IBD symptoms. Low fiber diets are thought to accomplish this by denying fibrous stool-forming scaffolding to which bacteria can adhere and ferment, causing pain and bloating. High protein diets, in contrast, are believed to work by exploiting the difficulty that gut microbiota of IBD patients have in digesting soluble proteins. Because these soluble proteins require too much energy to break down normally, proponents of high protein diets claim they are not able to produce enough fermented byproducts to cause the symptoms of IBD.
As noted by Drs. Hou, Less, and Lewis, the support for these diets are often based on obsolete or disproven science. For example, an oft-cited study in favor of a low fiber specialty diet was published in 1955 and examined celiac disease rather than IBD. In fact, when analyzing existing literature, the research group concluded that low fiber diets might do more harm than good in patients with IBD, leading to augmentation of IBD symptoms, as well as nutritional deficiencies. This could be because fiber is necessary for healthy digestion, and its absence can cause problems independent of IBD symptomatology. High protein diets might also aggravate IBD; while unlikely to cause malnutrition, high protein diets also are unlikely to contain enough fiber and carbohydrates to be processed by the GI tract without causing the symptoms of IBD.
Unlike many others, Drs. Hou, Less, and Lewis didn’t confine their research to older, widely used specialty diets; they also investigated the recently developed low FODMAP diet. FODMAP refers to Fermentable Oligo/Di/Mono-Saccharides And Polyols, which have long been suspected of aggravating IBD symptoms because their molecules are easy for gut microbiota to ferment. In a seminal 2005 paper, the researchers Peter Gibson and Susan Shepherd lent credence to this theory by linking the high quantity of FODMAPs—including fructoses, lactoses, polyols, and oligosaccharides—in the Western diet with the development and aggravation of Crohn’s disease.
FODMAPs are plentiful in the Western diet and particularly prevalent in foods such as fruits, milk, and beans. As a result, the average person consumes more FODMAPs per day than the small intestines’ enzymes are capable of breaking down. The remaining FODMAPs readily pass through to the large intestines, where they act as “fast food” for bacteria; fermentation of FODMAPs then causes bacterial populations to drastically expand, leading to inflammation and tissue damage in the process. This inflammation occurs in the small intestine, large intestine, and the colon, all of which are characteristic of IBD.
As a result of their findings, Gibson and Shepherd published a preliminary low FODMAP cookbook. In a 2009 pilot study, they subsequently developed a low FODMAP diet designed specifically to reduce the symptoms of Crohn’s disease, although it was broadly applicable to other inflammatory bowel diseases. The study found that most participants who adhere to the low FODMAP diet strictly for three months experience improvement in IBD symptoms, whereas those who did not follow the diet strictly saw few improvements. In total, 56 percent of patients who adhered to the diet saw an overall reduction of symptoms, including diminished bloating, pain, gas, and diarrhea. Although many of these improvements were reported to be moderate in magnitude, study participants were not asked whether they thought the diet was worth continuing. However, participants generally found the diet to be palatable, easy to prepare, and thus easy to adhere to. Most critically, the success of the FODMAP pilot study proved that dietary interventions can offer much-needed relief for IBD patients.
Drs. Hou, Less, and Lewis’ investigation of the low FODMAP diet supports these promising results; in fact, the low FODMAP diet was found to be more effective for alleviating IBD symptoms than any other dietary intervention they looked at. More recent reviews of the low FODMAP diet have confirmed the therapeutic benefits of the diet in the treatment of IBD. Support for this intervention provides greater insight into the potential causes of and solutions for IBD symptoms that can help researchers refine future treatment methods.
Although the low FODMAP diet presents exciting possibilities for non-invasive treatment of IBD, there are still unanswered questions regarding its long-term nutritional impact. For example, although it is far more nutritionally sustainable than many other specialty diets, unrecognized deficiencies might cause pathologies over extended periods of time. Additionally, the diet might change the gut microbiome in ways not yet fully understood and complicate subsequent IBD treatment. As such, longer-term studies are needed to gain more insight into the potential of the low FODMAP diet. In the meantime, support is emerging for a different kind of dietary intervention: nutritional supplementation.
Recent studies suggest that a number of new nutritional supplements might help reduce the symptoms of IBD by restoring a healthy gut microbiota in patients with IBD. Butyric acid supplements are considered particularly promising according to a 2014 paper. Butyric acid is a necessary component of the gut microbiome and is utilized for cell signaling in the intestinal lumen. Researchers have found that individuals with IBD have lower levels of butyric acid-producing microbiota than in healthy controls, which is believed to be the result of healthy butyric acid-producing bacteria being outcompeted by bacteria farther upstream in the GI tract. As a result, these upstream bacteria are allowed access to an easy food source—potentially FODMAPs—that exacerbates IBD symptoms. Meanwhile, the healthy microbiome organisms further downstream are starved. This leads to the GI tract being deprived of critical butyric acid, thus compromising gastrointestinal function.
The findings of this study indicate that butyric supplements have a vital role to play in the nutritional support of IBD. When used alongside specialty diets that carefully regulate the gut microbiome, IBD patients might receive greater symptom relief than they would with diet alone. As more advanced nutritional supplements become available it might also be possible to use such supplements as standalone therapies. While further research is needed to refine treatment protocols, it is clear that dietary interventions offer exciting possibilities for alleviating IBD symptoms.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing bioavailability and absorption, and micro-dosing of multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Visit our website for more information about how Tesseract’s products can help support your gastrointestinal health and immune health.*
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Updated on December 22, 2022
Researchers face a unique challenge when studying bioavailability pharmacology: as a result of the process of digestion, the many contours of the intestinal system each have unique chemical microenvironments. Bioavailability pharmacology is the degree to which an active ingredient in a nutritional supplement can be absorbed into the bloodstream intact after the body has processed the supplement. This area of research is especially critical for nutritional supplements taken orally because it is difficult to precisely measure—and even more difficult to guarantee—uniform absorption throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
In particular, emerging nutritional supplement delivery systems are exciting news for the field of butyrate supplements. These supplements are especially sensitive to geographical bioavailability during absorption in the GI tract because butyric acid has varying physiological effects depending on which area absorbs the highest concentration from the supplement. For patients suffering from gastrointestinal issues to achieve systemic benefits from butyric acid supplements, the supplements must be absorbed in the distal colon rather than near the hepatic portal vein after metabolism by the liver.
To overcome this biological dilemma, researchers are currently developing more advanced delivery systems. In other words, they are working on creating supplements that are more effectively absorbed, allowing them to achieve passage through the blood-brain barrier. Based on preliminary research, the results appear promising.
Currently, advanced delivery systems available on the market include colloidal delivery, nanomaterial delivery, and superior refinements of traditional encapsulation techniques that finely tune bioavailability and absorption. Gastrointestinal doctors and patients alike must understand the differences between each of these delivery systems to adjust dosing and ultimately achieve the best possible medical outcome.How Lipospheres and Colloidal Drug
Although many pharmaceutical drugs already leverage the power of lipospheres, they have only recently been introduced into the arena of nutritional supplements. Lipospheres encapsulate ingredients in fatty acids to make them fat soluble, allowing for efficient delivery of the macromolecule. Macromolecules have traditionally suffered from steep first-pass digestive degradation that reduces the number of intact and still biologically active macromolecules that make it to the liver and beyond; partially degraded macromolecules don’t have the same physiological effects as intact ones. Ingredients enclosed in a liposphere bubble experience minimal digestive degradation and thus maintain a higher concentration of the macromolecule until its arrival at the intended delivery site.
Liposphere-based approaches to ingredient delivery are essentially based on colloid-forming technologies. Colloids help ingredients survive the stomach’s highly acidic microenvironment. Lipospheres behave as an emulsifying agent, allowing the ingredient to be suspended in a protective barrier.
Liposphere and colloidal delivery systems have already been proven effective in pharmaceutical environments and are now being introduced into the realm of bioavailability pharmacology. While they still require first-pass metabolism after digestion, patients with GI issues will experience far better absorption rates when using nutritional supplements with liposphere or colloidal delivery systems than with traditional options, which lack delivery systems of any kind.
Nanoparticle-based delivery systems provide a molecularly-targeted means of bypassing undesirable metabolic or gastric gateways detrimental to the absorption rate of a nutritional supplement—and thus its bioavailability. In fact, attaching a nutritional supplement’s ingredients to nanoparticles can allow for bypassing first-pass metabolism entirely.
Nanodelivery systems include nanoencapsulants and nanoattachments. Both protect the ingredient from certain metabolic and gastric elements, which leaves more of the ingredient intact for absorption. The difference: nanoencapsulants act as a carriage for the supplement to ride in; whereas, nanoattachments are tabs attached to the supplement that are degraded during digestion and metabolism, protecting the supplement itself from being degraded and thus increasing its bioavailability.
Nanocarriers that encapsulate pharmaceutical drugs for oral administration have been proven effective for increasing bioavailability. This effectiveness translates to butyric acid supplements as well. However, a key hurdle that nanotechnology-based delivery systems face in the context of both nutritional supplements and pharmacology is their cost efficiency. Nanotechnology is expensive to test and finicky to implement, so it will likely take time for these solutions to hit the broader nutritional supplement market.
Nanodelivery systems have a short history of use in pharmaceutical delivery systems, and shorter still for the delivery of nutritional supplements. The cost of this technology also means it likely faces an uphill battle for implementation. However, the potential for extremely high bioavailability with nanotechnological delivery systems means that supplement developers are heavily incentivized to continue research.
The newest encapsulation technology being introduced by pharmaceutical companies can also increase the bioavailability of supplements. Cutting edge encapsulation drug delivery methods are effective at surviving entry into the GI tract. This is due to advances in multi-phasic capsule degradation that occurs based on specific chemical environments.
Historically, erodibles stumble at delivering nutritional supplements to exact structures of the GI tract if their chemical environments are too similar for the capsule’s dissolving mechanism to differentiate between. But there might be ways around this obstacle by simply increasing the amount of time that it takes for the capsule to erode. This might cause other dilemmas, however, such as ingredient concentrations that are too high in one portion of the GI tract and too low in another. However, when fully refined, erodible supplements can provide many of the same benefits that more complex technologies do in the quest to improve bioavailability.
The sensitivity of the delivery environment is the primary challenge of erodibles; however, a crucial challenge for pharmacology is securing the intellectual property necessary for their manufacture. Many of the most effective erodible formats are patented by major pharmaceutical companies, making them expensive to license. Continued refinements of encapsulation, erosion, and time-released technologies aren’t the most exciting advancements in drug delivery, but they’re the most likely to be deployed and extensively tested, provided that supplement companies are able to license the intellectual property.
Bioavailability pharmacology is having its day in the sun, and the benefits of these new technologies will be passed directly to patients with GI pathologies. Leaning on the pharmaceutical industry’s previous research and insights means there’s a good chance the breakthroughs being made today can be deployed tomorrow. For example, Tesseract Medical Research’s patent-pending delivery system is designed specifically to optimize the bioavailability of nutritional supplements via unique encapsulation and release mechanisms that allow for maximum therapeutic efficacy. This technology is ushering in the next wave of bioavailability pharmacology, changing the very foundation of what we can expect from supplement therapies. When patients are prescribed or consume supplements with superior bioavailability pharmacology, the technology enables them to experience more effective outcomes and benefits.
The great news is that the development of delivery technology for nutritional supplements is just getting started—and is expected to quickly make an impact on the bioavailability and effectiveness of butyrate supplements. Whether by improving traditional formulations, implementing more sophisticated nanotechnology schemes, or exploring colloidal and lipid-based solutions, bioavailability is an obstacle that’s being overcome, one research paper at a time.
Tesseract Medical Research is dedicated to exploring topics around bioavailability pharmacology and modern insights on foundational medicine impacting patients with gastrointestinal and neurological disorders.
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Updated on January 2, 2023
For many years, alternative medicine remained outside mainstream medicine due to a paucity of scientifically validated evidence. Today, this is rapidly changing—thanks to new developments in alternative medicine research and evolving perspectives among patients and clinicians. Rather than rejecting alternatives to conventional medicine out of hand, patients and physicians are looking to benefit from recent findings. Studies suggest that alternative medicine increasingly plays a role in the treatment of a multitude of conditions and that younger generations of patients and clinicians employ alternative treatment methods more than their predecessors. As alternative therapies increasingly move into the mainstream, patients have more options for finding relief from symptoms than ever before.
Alternative medicine refers to medical treatments that fall outside mainstream medical care. Historically, clinicians refrained from prescribing such therapies due to a lack of empirical evidence of efficacy. Patients, however, often sought out alternative therapies on their own, and anecdotal evidence has long suggested that alternative therapies can have significant benefits for a wide variety of medical conditions.
Beginning in 1999, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, with the help of federal government funding, sought to investigate whether these anecdotal claims could be replicated on a statistically significant level in empirical studies. The result was the emergence of a still-expanding body of research demonstrating that many alternative medicine modalities are safe and effective. Such research has spurred increased integration of alternative practices in mainstream treatment environments.
Today alternative medicine is a common component of regimens for a host of medical conditions. Research suggests that alternative medicine is now used by up to 91 percent of oncology patients and is offered by 86 percent of U.S. hospices. In the field of psychiatry, alternative treatments like nutritional supplements have been shown to provide meaningful help for symptoms related to a wide variety of mental health disorders. For example, 60 percent of Norwegian physicians have been properly trained to use acupuncture as an analgesic, and 69 percent of Australian hospitals incorporate alternative treatments for cancer patients. Alternative medicine is undeniably reshaping clinical practice.
One of the fields where alternative medicine is quickly becoming ubiquitous is autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies show that up to 95 percent of children with autism receive alternative therapies and alternative medicine is now an essential component of many such strategies. In U.S. autism treatment programs, commonly used alternative medicine modalities include:
As the prevalence of alternative medicine regimens in autism shows, not all patients respond well to conventional treatments or experience adequate relief from symptoms. A growing body of both anecdotal and empirically verified evidence suggests that alternative practices can provide significant help for symptoms even where conventional interventions have failed. Moreover, this research shows that some alternative practices can simultaneously improve the overall quality of life for individuals with autism.
Another area where alternative medicine is making significant inroads is gastrointestinal conditions. The prevalence of alternative medicine use in pediatric patients with GI issues, for example, is as high as 83 percent. Multivitamin supplementation is the most common alternative therapy used for GI issues, representing 91 percent of alternative medicine use. However, a number of other modalities are common, including:
According to researchers, there is compelling evidence that these therapies can provide meaningful relief of gastrointestinal symptoms. For example, one research cohort found that nutritional supplements were perceived as helpful by 47 percent of parents of pediatric patients. Meanwhile, a large-scale study on adults discovered that more than 80 percent of respondents with a GI condition reported that alternative therapies improved their symptoms. With evidence of efficacy mounting, the popularity of these therapies will likely soar as patients seek more complete resolution of symptoms and improved tolerability of treatment.
As interest in alternative medicine grows among clinicians and patients, there are a number of challenges that must be addressed to ensure safe use of alternative practices. For example, patients often embark on alternative therapies independently, without the supervision of physicians. However, this can result in improper treatment and create potentially hazardous interactions with conventional therapies. To ensure patient safety and create effective treatment plans, physicians need to acknowledge patients’ desire to try alternative modalities and seek the expertise necessary to guide the integration of these modalities. Newly scientifically validated methodologies for certain alternative medicine practices are already providing physicians with new tools to craft meaningful treatment experiences for today’s increasingly knowledgeable and empowered patients.
The mainstreaming of alternative medicine is spurred in large part by mounting evidence of efficacy. As a result, the distance between alternative therapies and mainstream medicine is closing rapidly, even in modalities where empirical evidence is only now emerging. To fully realize the potential of alternative medicine, however, further research is needed. Deeper and broader investigations into alternative practices will bring a wider array of alternative medicines into the fold of conventional medicine as the underlying science and physiological effects of alternative therapies are better understood. At the same time, empirical investigations will help us to create safe and effective protocols, refine therapy selection, and shape clinician and patient expectations. With thoughtful study designs and rigorous analysis, alternative medicine research can open up new possibilities for healing and move the medical establishment toward more integrative models of care.
Tesseract Medical Research is your source for relevant, reliable information on neurological and gastrointestinal disorders, including autism.
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Updated on December 22, 2022
Within the scientific and clinical communities, homeopathy has been a part of the conversation around autism spectrum disorder (ASD) treatment options for years. Nearly two decades ago, autism researchers and clinical practitioners began assessing whether low doses of secretin could reduce symptoms of autism. Today, there is anecdotal and limited empirical evidence that a variety of homeopathic remedies—combined with secretin or not—can ameliorate a broad spectrum of symptoms for patients with autism and other neurological disorders. As a result, parents and clinicians looking to address symptoms that have not been alleviated by conventional interventions continue to consider homeopathy as a potential treatment strategy. However, they might be better served by seeking out more effective natural alternatives.
From the outset, the conversation about autism and homeopathy has been highly contentious, in part because of the very nature of homeopathy itself. Homeopathy, an alternative medicine practice first developed in Germany at the end of the 18th century, is based on two key theoretical principles. The first principle is that diseases can be cured by introducing substances that produce symptoms similar to the condition from which the patient is suffering to stimulate the body’s innate healing abilities. Put more simply, homeopathic practitioners believe that “like cures like.” The second principle is that introducing certain substances in minute doses can have outsized effects. Homeopathic remedies are often diluted to the point where the homeopathic substances being introduced are virtually undetectable.
Although the principles of homeopathy might seem similar to those of vaccination, it is important to note there is no relationship. Vaccines introduce small doses of a disease-causing substance in order to “train” the immune system to recognize a disease and mount an immune response on future exposure. With homeopathy, the theory is that introducing a diluted version of a symptom-causing substance will directly cure the existing condition.
Although homeopathy is not backed by solid scientific principles, it remains highly appealing to parents with children who have autism. As an all-natural remedy, it can seem like a great option for children who have not seen complete resolution of symptoms with conventional treatments or who want to avoid conventional pharmaceutical options altogether. Given this high level of interest, coupled with widespread anecdotal evidence of efficacy, some researchers have attempted to find empirical evidence supporting the use of homeopathic treatments for autism.
The potential for homeopathy to treat symptoms of autism first gained widespread attention in the early 2000s in response to a series of well-publicized anecdotes. Specifically, clinicians and parents were reporting that the introduction of secretin, a gastrointestinal hormone, could improve symptoms of autism, particularly symptoms related to social behaviors and speech communication. There were also reported improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms associated with autism.
The scientific principle behind the proposal that secretin could aid in the treatment of autism was the “opioid excess theory,” which posits autism as a metabolic disorder. According to proponents of this theory, some symptoms of autism—particularly those related to social and language skills—are associated with high levels of peptides that have opioid activity in the brain. Although the primary role of secretin is to regulate the release of substances in the gastrointestinal tract, some evidence suggests the presence of secretin can lower the levels of these peptides. As a result, homeopathic secretin treatment could potentially improve neurological functioning in autism patients and thereby alleviate related symptoms.
In response to anecdotal success stories, there was a flurry of activity within the scientific community as researchers sought to investigate whether the efficacy of secretin treatment could be empirically verified. However, the results were mixed, leaving many clinicians at a loss for how to advise patients and families. Although there was no statistically significant evidence for the efficacy of secretin as a treatment modality, there were multiple clinical trials in which some parents reported positive benefits or an individual patient showed marked improvement. It is important to note that only a few of the clinical trials that were conducted introduced secretin at homeopathic levels—that is, in extremely low doses. However, the results of those that did were the same as the others. The findings provided strong anecdotal evidence for the efficacy of homeopathic secretin treatment, along with promising—but inconclusive—statistical results.
With no clear direction for future research, the scientific community turned away from studies on homeopathy and autism. A systematic literature review paper from 2014 revealed that 2005 was the last time a rigorous clinical trial examining the relationship between autism and homeopathy was published in a major medical journal.
The loss of widespread research interest in homeopathic treatments for ASD was surprising because these treatments never lost traction in the clinical community. Many clinicians and parents around the world continue to report benefits when applying the principles of homeopathic medicine to ASD patients, both in combination with and in place of conventional treatments. However, while some clinicians still use homeopathic levels of secretin to treat autism, the conversation has now shifted away from secretin to more multi-dimensional homeopathic treatment approaches.
Today’s most popular homeopathic treatments now use low levels of multiple substances to address a broad range of symptoms, and the exact combination of remedies is tailored to the needs of the patient. Some of the homeopathic substances reported to aid in the treatment of autism include Stramonium, Tarentula hispanica, Calcarea carbonica, Natrum muriaticum, and Carcinosinum. Although there are currently no major research studies examining the efficacy of these remedies, a small 2014 study on 60 children with autism found that they produced statistically significant improvements of multiple ASD symptoms, including hyperactivity/restlessness, sensory impairment, eye contact, and speech communication.
When it comes to autism and homeopathy, significant questions remain. The widely circulated anecdotal evidence that holistic homeopathic therapies can be used to successfully treat symptoms of autism is exciting to many parents and patients. However, rigorous clinical trials that offer more definitive evidence of efficacy must be conducted to better understand these therapies—including the mechanisms through which they operate and the types of patients they are most likely to help—and to create meaningful treatment protocols.
The motivation to pursue additional rigorous research on homeopathy and autism might be bolstered by positive results from recent research on the efficacy of homeopathic treatments for other neurological disorders, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For instance, in a comparative consecutive case series of 30 children with ADHD from 2016, researchers in the UK reported statistically significant improvements in children who received individualized homeopathic therapy from a trained homeopath, compared to those who received conventional treatments. The researchers noted there were broad symptom improvements in the patients with a concomitant diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Studies like this could provide impetus for more rigorous research on homeopathy and autism in the future.Despite small studies indicating potential efficacy, there is currently a significant gap between empirical evidence and real-life experience. As researchers attempt to fill this gap, we can gain greater insight into the value of homeopathic remedies in clinical settings and make more informed treatment decisions to ensure better outcomes. In the meantime, parents who are seeking better symptom relief for their children than they have achieved via conventional therapies might want to explore natural alternatives, such as butyric acid, which is readily available in nutritional supplement form.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in the proprietary science of proven nutrients and unrivaled smart delivery, making them the most effective for supporting neurological health and gastrointestinal health.*
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Updated on December 22, 2022
Crohn’s disease is notoriously difficult to manage. Despite the fact that traditional pharmaceuticals and biologic therapies are available, for many sufferers, these options are insufficient for effectively reducing symptoms. Moreover, they often result in debilitating side effects—and carry a high price tag that makes them inaccessible.
For patients battling gastrointestinal ailments who are interested in alternatives in addition to traditional pharmaceuticals and therapies, one option to consider is nutritional supplementation for helping to manage Crohn’s disease. The effectiveness and bioavailability of several compounds used in the nutritional supplement format, such as vitamin D, is backed by a large body of rigorous research; for supplements that have only recently emerged as possible nutritional support for Crohn’s patients, such as creatine, the research is just getting underway. The following explores a few of the supplements that show promise as complementary therapies for Crohn’s disease.
Crohn’s disease can prevent the absorption of vitamin D from food; up to 80 percent of patients become deficient in this important nutrient. Vitamin D deficiency can then lead to osteoporosis for many Crohn’s sufferers. However, multiple research studies show that supplementation can reduce this risk. For this reason, vitamin D, primarily known for its role in bone health, is one of the most commonly recommended complementary therapies for Crohn’s.
Moreover, the latest studies suggest that taking vitamin D supplements promote more normal bowel inflammation by exerting effects on two key inflammatory factors. Although the supporting research is still in its earliest stages, it indicates that vitamin D is beneficial for intestinal inflammatory response in animal models. There are also preliminary trials suggesting that high-dose, bioavailable vitamin D supplementation is beneficial for helping to maintain remission for Crohn’s disease patients.
Taking vitamin D might also be beneficial for a patient’s long-term health. Crohn’s disease patients are at higher risk of developing colon cancer than the general population. Scientists hypothesize that intestinal inflammation plays a role in the development of colon cancer, and there are epidemiological and animal model studies suggesting that vitamin D might resist some of the cancer-promoting effects of intestinal inflammation in Crohn’s disease patients.
Curcumin is best known for being a constituent of turmeric, a popular spice. Studies show that the nutritional support effects of curcumin, when taken in a bioavailable form, help mediate the symptoms of Crohn’s disease. In one study, researchers found that taking a curcumin supplement alone or in combination with Remicade (a common immunosuppressant taken by Crohn’s disease patients) can ameliorate symptoms by promoting normal intestinal inflammation.
Patients who take Remicade to address their symptoms are often frustrated because the therapy can lose its effectiveness over time. A recent study might provide Crohn’s sufferers hope, however. The research seems to indicate that taking curcumin as a supplemental therapy can promote Remicade’s efficacy by helping to better maintain the body’s inflammatory response. Thus, curcumin supplements can be an effective option for patients seeking complementary therapies for Crohn’s disease that support their current management strategy.
Creatine, traditionally used by athletes and body-builders to improve performance, is a substance that supports the production of ATP in muscle cells. However, creatine has recently been found to provide nutritional support for individuals with Crohn’s disease. The results of one rigorous case study indicate that a bioavailable form of creatine can be effective for helping to manage symptoms in some Crohn’s disease patients.
There is also a clinical trial underway that is examining the potential benefits of creatine for supporting patients with ulcerative colitis. Although this research is ongoing, the success of the trial could have significant positive implications for the use of creatine in the future for likewise supporting individuals with Crohn’s disease.
Although effective treatments for Crohn’s disease can be challenging to find, alternatives to traditional treatment options are on the rise. Patients who are searching for complementary therapies for Crohn’s that reduce gastrointestinal symptoms—and the risk of health problems associated with Crohn’s—can find relief by including bioavailable nutritional supplements in their treatment plans. The research shows that including a nutritional supplement in a patient’s diet can have supportive benefits that are not achieved by standard pharmaceuticals alone.
For patients seeking nutritional support for Crohn’s disease, bioavailable forms of vitamin D, curcumin, and creatine are appropriate options to consider. As researchers continue to explore complementary therapies for Crohn’s disease, doctors and patients alike are already seeing the benefits of these health solutions.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in the proprietary science of proven nutrients and unrivaled smart delivery, making them the most effective for supporting neurological health and gastrointestinal health.*
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Updated on December 22, 2022
The use of antibiotics is all too common in modern medicine, with risks that are becoming increasingly evident. Although they are life-saving in many instances, no drug is without potential side effects.
One of the more frequent and dangerous consequences of these medicines is antibiotic-induced colitis. Affecting roughly 500,000 patients per year in the United States, antibiotic-induced colitis is a risk factor for anyone who has taken the medication. Symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases and disorders have been reported in young and old patients after antibiotic use, with this risk increasing over time with each new exposure.
Throughout much of medicine’s history, and certainly in the case of antibiotics, bacteria have been presented as the cause of disorders and something to be eliminated. Although it is true that some bacteria do cause infection and disease, scientists are finding compelling new evidence that many of these microorganisms are not only beneficial but, in fact, vital for health as well. The use of antibiotics, then, must be reevaluated in light of these discoveries about the gut microbiome and its relationship to antibiotic-induced colitis. In doing so, therapeutic possibilities to support the health of the microbiome must expand.
A vast collection of bacteria, viruses, and fungi inhabit the human gut, creating complex ecosystems, known as microbiomes, that promote health and wellness. Not only do they aid in digestion, they also guard against colonization by harmful bacteria. Only in the last few decades have researchers begun to understand the complexity of the bacterial ecosystems found in the intestinal tract—and the intrinsic nature of how a balanced gut microbiome impacts an individual’s health.
New evidence suggests that a spectrum of disorders, from obesity to mental illness, might be influenced by the bacteria found in the gut. Given the complexity of the microbiome, and its mutualistic association with human health, it shouldn’t be surprising that antibiotic medication can have a deleterious effect. The primary reason is that antibiotics not only affect harmful bacteria but significant populations of beneficial gut flora as well, thus disrupting the gastrointestinal ecosystems. This can allow harmful bacteria to colonize within the gut, and when this occurs, these harmful bacteria can cause an array of illnesses, from diarrhea to antibiotic-induced colitis and even cancer.
Paradoxically, the standard treatment for antibiotic-induced colitis is to administer yet more antibiotics, with dismally predictable rates of recurrence. However, as research reveals further evidence of the importance of the gut microbiome, particularly its ability to prevent intestinal colonization of pathogenic bacteria, many medical professionals are considering complementary or alternative therapies focused on augmenting the gut microbiome. Recent data suggests the rapid repopulation of healthy gut flora can yield more successful results for combating antibiotic-induced colitis than traditional pharmaceuticals.
One of the most basic components of one’s health and wellbeing is a healthy diet; the gut microbiome will interact with, and be affected by, everything eaten. Fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, and complex carbohydrates help beneficial bacteria in the gut thrive. Additionally, fermented foods such as yogurt, kafir, and doogh have been used for centuries to support health, acting as probiotics to deliver beneficial bacteria to the digestive system, bolstering the gut’s microbiome.
Occasionally, however, when a patient’s gut microbiome is dramatically imbalanced, a healthy diet just isn’t enough. Sufferers of antibiotic-induced colitis who experience severe damage to their gut flora require a more direct approach for restoring its vitality. This is where probiotic supplements can provide nutritional support by delivering living bacteria directly to the gut and repopulating the microbiome with beneficial organisms. Although probiotics have come into common use, prebiotics are much less discussed and utilized.
Unlike probiotics, prebiotics don’t contain bacteria that repopulate the microbiome; instead, they provide vital nutrients to existing populations of beneficial bacteria in the gut, bolstering their proliferation. Nutritional supplements such as pectin and inulin consist of naturally occurring compounds found in foods high in indigestible fiber. Although indigestible to humans, certain species of gut microorganisms, such as bifidobacteria, thrive on these substances.
Furthermore, as the bacteria metabolize prebiotic compounds, the byproducts of this metabolism become bioactive. Some of this bioavailability allows these substances to be absorbed by the human host, providing increased nutrients. Other byproducts of metabolism are bioactive in other ways, such as having antimicrobial qualities against invasive and pathogenic bacteria. Often, prebiotics and probiotics are given together, with the two acting synergistically to rebalance the gut microbiome, offering an effective and natural solution for sufferers of antibiotic-induced colitis.
In extreme cases of antibiotic-induced colitis, a procedure known as a fecal transplant has been shown to quickly repopulate the recipient’s gut with helpful bacteria, successfully restoring the microbiome. As the name implies, the procedure involves taking fecal matter from a carefully screened donor, processing it to a more refined material, and transplanting it into the gut of a patient. The goal of the treatment is to transfer the microbes from a healthy gut to an inflamed and damaged one, using the healthy microbes as the seed from which the gut’s microbiome can be repopulated.
In one study, five hospitalized and immuno-compromised patients suffering severe intestinal symptoms following antibiotic use, were given fecal transplants. The patients saw a resolution of their symptoms in several days and remained symptom-free for years after the treatment. Although antibiotics are currently the first line treatment for antibiotic-induced colitis, the successes seen with fecal transplants have many in the medical community advocating for the procedure to be more widely implemented.
Antibiotics are a common tool in modern medicine, with no indication this will change anytime soon. Thus, antibiotic-induced colitis can be expected to remain a challenge that doctors and hospitals will continue to face. Add to this the increasing resistance to antibiotics in some antibiotic-induced colitis patients, and the need for alternative methods to prevent and treat the disease becomes evident.
Studies demonstrate that repopulating the gut microbiome, whether through dietary modification, prebiotic supplements, or a fecal transplant, is a valid approach to combat antibiotic-induced colitis. Given how active an area of research this has become and the positive results of these studies, it’s likely that additional microbiota-based therapies will continue to be developed.
Although the ability of the gut microbiome to resolve conditions as serious as antibiotic-induced colitis appears to be close to miraculous, in reality, it is quite natural. Given the expense and risk accompanying the overuse of antibiotics, some medical professionals are beginning to consider alternative and complementary approaches to gastrointestinal diseases and disorders that support the microbiome, as opposed to devastating it. With current research demonstrating how important the flora of the gut is, this will continue to be a topic of interest for the medical community. This expanded understanding of the gut microbiome is certain to guide future therapies for antibiotic-induced colitis and increase the options for enhancing microbiome health.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in the proprietary science of proven nutrients and unrivaled smart delivery, making them the most effective for supporting gastrointestinal health.*
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Updated on December 22, 2022
Clinical care of autism patients is challenging, with a diverse set of comorbidities complicating the management of core deficits. Autism is defined primarily as a neuro-developmental issue characterized by impaired communication, limited social engagement, and repetitive behaviors. However, an array of other symptoms often accompany these core traits. In particular, gastrointestinal problems appear to be common comorbidities for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder. Research indicates that gastrointestinal symptoms occur in children with autism at rates 3-4 times higher than seen in those without. Communication deficits that are the hallmark of autism spectrum disorder can confound diagnosis and delay treatment of gastrointestinal distress. In some children, abdominal symptoms can present as a persistent cough, recurrent throat clearing, or an exacerbation of problem behaviors, such as self harm.
Although there appears to be a consensus on an association between autism and gastrointestinal problems, a definitive link between the two remains elusive. Without clear evidence of a causative underlying pathology, health-care professionals apply the same standard of care for patients with and without autism to address gastrointestinal complaints. This standard typically focuses on symptom management. However, in addition to gastrointestinal problems, research shows that individuals with an autism spectrum disorder tend to have a contentious relationship with food in general. For many on the autistic spectrum, food allergies, decreased bowel motility, and self-avoidance of certain foods disrupt their nutritional intake.
Some researchers are now exploring the gut microbiome and the bioactive compounds that certain bacteria produce through fermentation in the intestine. Their work seeks to elucidate the association between autism and gastrointestinal problems. The gut microbiome is the complex and diverse population of microorganisms that inhabit the human gut and exist in a mutualistic relationship with its host. Although this relationship is integral to the health of the gastrointestinal tract, it also extends beyond the gut because the gut microbiome interacts with every system in the body through neurologic, immunologic, and endocrine mediators. While our understanding of this complex network is far from complete, each new piece of evidence is bringing us closer to therapeutic modalities that leverage this relationship.
As a species, humans have coevolved with the gut flora that resides within us. Our physiology is intimately intertwined with the hundreds of different bacteria, viruses, and fungi that call our guts home. Digestion is one of the most basic and influential metabolic processes of human health where this microbiome is involved. Of particular importance is a group of bacteria known as the fermenters. Humans lack the enzyme that breaks down large carbohydrate molecules. Through the metabolic process of fermentation, these large carbohydrate molecules are converted to smaller molecules, like short-chain fatty acids, that can then be absorbed. The fiber in our diet—such as that found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and unrefined grains—is indigestible. However, after it is in the large intestine, this fiber undergoes fermentation by the microorganisms found there. This fermentation not only metabolizes these non-digestible carbohydrates into nutrients that support the microbiome, but the products of this metabolism—short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, propionate, and acetate—become bioavailable to the host. Not only are short-chain fatty acids vital for the health of the lining of the gut, they also act as mediators of inflammation in the gut and can even cross the blood-brain barrier to affect neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. Manipulating one’s diet to increase short-chain fatty acids in the gut has been shown to decrease pro-inflammatory markers, benefit gut motility, and increase serotonin levels, reminding us that the interaction of the gut microbiome and the food we eat influences nearly every aspect of a person’s health.
Although many medical professionals agree there is a correlation between autism and gastrointestinal dysfunction, there are few definitive answers to the pathophysiology behind it. However, studies examining the gut microbiome in individuals with autism do provide interesting clues.
Numerous researchers have demonstrated differences in the microbiome of individuals with autism compared to standard control groups. One of these studies noted significantly reduced populations of Prevotella, Coprococcus, and Veillonellaceae species, all of which ferment carbohydrates in the intestine to produce short-chain fatty acids. Prevotella species functions in two important ways: it possesses the genes for the biosynthesis of vitamin B1 and high populations of Prevotella correspond to low populations of Enterobacteriaceae, such as Salmonella and Shigella, suggesting a protective effect against pathogenic bacteria. This study, in addition to finding reduced populations of fermenting bacteria, also noted that the microbiome is less populated and has a decrease in the diversity of populations of microbes in the gut of individuals with autism, with the least diversity correlating with more severe gastrointestinal problems.
With data suggesting a link between the gut flora’s production of short-chain fatty acids and gastrointestinal disturbances, some researchers are now exploring the possibilities of manipulating the microbiome to ameliorate symptoms. For example, probiotics, like Lactobacillus, have been shown to reduce abdominal symptoms in conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, and Saccharomyces is showing promise as an adjunctive treatment for diarrhea in children with autism. As scientists gain greater insight into the connection between symptoms associated with autism and the composition of their microbiome, both clinicians and caregivers can gain increased awareness of how to work with these microbes to alleviate gastrointestinal problems in the autistic patient or perhaps even prevent them from occurring.
As we continue to explore the gut microbiome, to reacquaint ourselves with this “forgotten organ,” we are finding potential new avenues of treatment for myriad ailments. To the millions who suffer with gastrointestinal problems, research of the microbiome is inspiring several novel therapeutic strategies to alleviate their distress. For those who suffer from autism, working with the microbes in the gut might be doubly beneficial, with some data suggesting psychiatric and neurologic benefits in addition to improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms. Whether it is dietary modification, pre- and probiotic supplements, or the administration of short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, considering the role of the microbiome in gastrointestinal health provides clinicians with a new approach, one that works with the mutualistic interaction between microbiome and host.
The growing body of knowledge about the gut microbiome, even in just the last few years, demonstrates immense potential in co-opting biochemical mechanisms to treat and prevent disease. Pharmaceutical companies are currently exploring bioavailable molecules that are products of bacterial fermentation in the gut as the basis for new and safer drugs, and cutting-edge nutritional supplements targeted toward stabilizing the gut microbiome are already on the market. Better comprehension of the role the microbiome plays in early development might also inspire methods of supporting these organisms in children as a preventative measure against future developmental dysfunction. For those already living with autism, the medical community is actively investigating these microorganisms and their role as mediators of health and disease, and each new discovery guides refinements to their methods.
As our understanding of the gut microbiome grows and informs the development of more advanced therapeutics, the future of medicine opens innumerable possibilities for potential treatments.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in the proprietary science of proven nutrients and unrivaled smart delivery, making them the most effective for supporting neurological health and gastrointestinal health.*
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Updated on December 22, 2022
Although complementary therapies are experiencing broader mainstream acceptance within the clinical context of autism therapy, complementary therapies for autism are not without controversy. While parents of patients and clinicians report that complementary therapies, particularly nutritional supplements, are helpful, the scientific literature on the topic suggests this isn’t uniformly the case. Now, some believe the variable bioavailability of nutritional supplements might explain the inconsistencies in research findings. Additionally, increasing the bioavailability of nutritional supplements by catering their delivery mechanisms to the unique gut microenvironment in autism spectrum disorders is essential to providing benefits.
Complementary therapies are defined as therapies that are used in conjunction with conventional medical treatments. Unlike alternative medicine, which seeks to replace conventional medicine, complementary therapies work alongside conventional treatments to promote more complete relief of symptoms while optimizing quality of life for the patient. Today, complementary therapies are increasingly being recognized as invaluable components of an integrative model of care.
For the treatment of autism, complementary therapies involving nutritional supplements are particularly popular. This type of therapy refers to the use of food or food products, including supplements, to provide medical benefits. Parents of children with autism often turn to these therapies because they might potentially benefit autism spectrum disorder symptoms that have not been successfully resolved using conventional medicine alone, while also avoiding the risk of undesirable side-effects. Unfortunately, empirical studies are limited in their scope for assessing the efficacy of complementary therapies in general and nutritional supplements in particular for symptoms of autism. Instead, most studies focus on parent perception of a therapy’s efficacy in their child’s treatment.
According to a 2015 study, 74.5 percent of parents of children with autism reported they had tried using a nutritional supplement as a complementary therapy recently or in the past. Research indicates that a large majority of parents find these therapies to be valuable, with one study revealing that parents felt that 75 percent of the nutritional supplements they tried were at least somewhat effective in managing symptoms of autism or the specific issue for which the supplement was indicated. In a similar study, a majority of parents utilizing nutritional supplements for autism agreed that the supplements were often helpful in alleviating symptoms and were at worst ineffective; no negative effects were reported.
These studies show that many nutritional supplements are an important part of many children’s autism regimen despite a lack of rigorous studies suggesting a single effective regimen. If the science doesn’t demonstrate the success of nutritional supplements for dealing with the symptoms of autism, then why do parents tend to think they work? What are parents seeing that researchers are not?
Parents are not the only ones who believe in the positive effects of nutritional supplements; clinicians too are increasingly integrating such therapies in management plans. Already, many clinicians are recommending supplements like omega-3 fatty acids, digestive enzymes, probiotics, and vitamin D to address specific issues and observing their benefits.
However, the efficacy of these therapies remains controversial within the scientific community owing to conflicting research findings; some researchers conclude that nutritional supplements might be efficacious; whereas, other researchers conclude the opposite. These inconsistencies might be caused by a number of factors. Such factors include methodology flaws that prevent the identification of positive results, inadequate supplement testing conditions, and the unique GI tract of autism patients that interferes with the bioavailability of the active ingredient.
Many studies of complementary therapies for autism suffer from the same issues:
Any or all of these issues can make differentiation between the most and least effective therapies impossible. They also preclude meaningful insight into whether specific complementary therapy regimens are helpful in reducing patient symptomatology. Thus, many complementary therapies for autism might be held back by study designs that fail to capture the benefits experienced by the patients or observed by parents and clinicians.
Nutritional supplement therapies, in particular, present an additional methodological challenge. Many nutritional supplements have their pharmacokinetics established in studies of healthy individuals. Popular nutritional supplements like fish oil are a perfect example of this phenomenon. The expected bioavailability of fish oil assumes the gastrointestinal tract of a neurotypical person. As a result, studies of the efficacy of fish oil in different pathological contexts use these assumptions to establish a dose-response relationship. Because autism is typically accompanied by a substantially altered GI tract, it is inadequate to use the same pharmacokinetic standards for fish oil for an autistic individual as for those without. This unrealistic expectation is part of a larger issue that could account for the discrepancies within the literature: autism-related GI issues can interfere with supplement bioavailability and its supplement bioavailability that is essential for effective therapy. The ability to benefit from nutritional supplements can vary from person to person based on their specific GI challenges, which could explain why some parents and clinicians report symptom improvement that research studies don’t reflect on a larger scale.
Given the link between autism spectrum disorders and GI-tract pathologies, the primary challenge for GI-tract targeted nutritional supplements for autism is bioavailability. Unfortunately, the current scientific literature on supplement use in the therapy of autism-related symptoms does not account for bioavailability variation between individuals. Researchers also overwhelmingly do not test nutritional supplements in the context of highly bioavailable formats made specifically for individuals with autism but test in the context of common supplements. Common supplements are compounded or manufactured without special release systems. As a result, many common supplements can have low bioavailability in autistic individuals. For example, one study found significant differences in the bioavailability of orally administered linoleic acid between neurotypical individuals and autistic individuals when using a traditional delivery system.
The bioavailability of nutritional supplement therapies for individuals with autism is a complex issue, because GI tracts and drug metabolism are markedly different in individuals with autism than in neurotypical individuals. Individuals with autism might absorb supplement ingredients less efficiently (preventing the therapeutic concentration from accumulating) or with excess efficiency (causing a spike in plasma concentration that is eliminated too quickly for sustained symptom treatment). As such, supplementing individuals with autism requires a delivery system that can account for these abnormalities to optimize therapeutic efficacy.
In response to the growing body of evidence documenting the nature of autism-related GI pathologies, new supplementdelivery systems are being developed to offer higher bioavailability. Cutting-edge delivery systems, such as those recently introduced by Tesseract Medical Research, are designed to allow complementary therapies for autism to produce better, more predictable results. As our understanding of the bioavailability challenges experienced by individuals with autism expands, such delivery systems might one day become the standard for nutritional supplement therapies targeting symptoms of autism, helping patients enhance quality of life.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in the proprietary science of proven nutrients and unrivaled smart delivery, making them the most effective for supporting neurological health and gastrointestinal health.*
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