Article Summary:
- Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face unique and significant challenges when addressing a wide range of symptoms related to this condition .
- Glutathione supplementation may protect children with ASD against oxidative stress, thereby helping to manage various symptoms.*
- Selecting a high-quality glutathione supplement is essential to achieving the best outcome.
Although the underlying cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is unclear, researchers indicate that ASD is at least partially associated with unbalanced inflammatory responses in the brain and in the gastrointestinal tract. Research also suggests that therapies aimed at helping to maintain a normal inflammatory response in children with ASD might help improve management of ASD symptoms1,2.
Children with ASD can achieve a more balanced inflammatory response in their body with targeted nutritional supplementation. Several nutritional supplements can help maintain the body’s normal inflammatory response, including glutathione, which seems promising for addressing a broad range of interconnected symptoms related to ASD3.
Glutathione, the body’s so-called ‘master antioxidant’, is a powerful antioxidant that directly neutralizes free radicals and also helps to regenerate other important antioxidants in the body.* All cells in the body produce glutathione, making it an entirely natural, biocompatible nutrient that can be supplemented without the risk of adverse side effects. This blog post explains how glutathione can help support children with ASD, and the benefits of incorporating an advanced glutathione supplement for autism symptom support.
Understanding the Need for Glutathione for Autism Support
Children with autism appear to have an unusually high level of oxidative stress in their brains and gastrointestinal tracts, which may explain why they experience unbalanced inflammatory responses in these areas. Some researchers suspect the cause might be inefficient glutathione synthesis or recycling, as multiple meta-analyses and systematic reviews demonstrate that children and adults with ASD consistently show decreased blood and brain levels of glutathione4,5.
The relationship between inflammatory responses in the brain and autism symptoms was initially discovered in animal studies of autism, where test subjects exhibited an exaggerated startle response and increased rapid withdrawal from tactile sensations.6
The following table highlights how imbalanced inflammatory responses in the brain and gut can impact emotional and behavioral changes in ASD children.
| Imbalanced Inflammatory Responses and ASD Symptoms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Inflammation in the brain | An imbalanced inflammatory response in the brain can contribute to behavioral difficulties even more directly; it may cause reduced brain functioning, leading to lower cognitive performance and greater sensitivity to unwanted tactile sensations, a common symptom of autism.7 | |
| Inflammation in the gut | In the gastrointestinal tract, an imbalanced inflammatory response may lead to changes in bowel habits, bloating, and pain, which can cause both emotional and behavioral disturbances in response to the physical discomfort.8 | |
| ASD and low levels of free glutathione in the brain | Studies have found that children with ASD have lower levels of free glutathione in their brains, which could explain the elevated levels of oxidative stress.9 It also means their bodies are chronically low on a key tool that helps maintain a normal neuroinflammatory response.* |
|
Glutathione supplementation helps maintain a normal inflammatory response, aiding with ASD symptom management by supporting healthy physical, emotional, and behavioral changes.*
With lower levels of oxidative stress, children with ASD may be able to communicate more effectively and experience less physical and mental agitation or distress.*.
Choosing the Best Glutathione Supplement
For caregivers of children with ASD who are interested in a natural remedy that may address symptoms associated with this condition, glutathione supplementation is an exciting new option.*
However, choosing the best glutathione supplement is essential for optimizing glutathione’s benefits. Selecting a glutathione nutritional supplement from a trusted manufacturer, such as Tesseract Medical Research, ensures you receive a supplement that is calibrated to specifically support the body’s ability to control oxidative stress.*
SafeCell® is an acetylated form of oral glutathione developed by Tesseract Medical Research. This innovative formulation utilizes Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® —DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology to achieve optimal absorption and bioavailability of glutathione. It is this unprecedented absorption that achieves the benefits of glutathione for autism support.*
For many families, glutathione nutritional support can be an invaluable addition to a comprehensive remedial plan, ultimately enhancing the quality of life of the entire family.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, absorption, and bioavailability, and micro-dosing a single or multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they support optimal neurological health.*
References:
1Matta SM, et al. Brain Behav Immun. 2019 Jul;79:75-90. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.04.037.
2Hughes HK, et al. Brain Behav Immun. 2023;108:245-254. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2022.12.001
3Kern, Janet K et al. Medical Science Monitor: International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research, vol. 17,12 (2011): CR677-82. doi:10.12659/msm.882125
4Bjørklund G, et al. Free Radic Biol Med. 2020;160:149-162. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.07.017
5Chen L, et al. Transl Psychiatry. 2021;11(1):15. Published 2021 Jan 5. doi:10.1038/s41398-020-01135-3
6Theoharides TC, et al. Journal of Neuroinflammation vol. 10 46. 9 Apr 2013, doi:10.1186/1742-2094-10-46
7Siniscalco D, et al. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 11,2 56. 4 Jun 2018, doi:10.3390/ph11020056
8Eshraghi RS, et al. Journal of Clinical Medicine vol. 10,1 27. 24 Dec 2020, doi:10.3390/jcm10010027
9James SJ, et al. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric Genetics: the Official Publication of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics vol. 141B,8 (2006):947-956. doi:10.1002/ajmg.b.30366
