Updated on August 10, 2023
Article Summary
- Many families of autistic children struggle to fully address the symptoms of autism
- Glutathione supplementation could help children with autism protect against oxidative stress, thereby helping to manage various symptoms*
- Selecting a high-quality glutamine supplement is essential to achieving the best outcome
If your loved one has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), then you’re likely always on the lookout for anything that might make them more comfortable. Whether it’s a specialty diet, a new drug, or a new mode of social skills training, there are countless possibilities to explore. But few of these possibilities can address the root causes of autism, which aren’t fully understood by medical science. Furthermore, few therapies can address multiple dimensions of autism. However, research suggests that therapies aimed at helping to maintain a normal inflammatory response in these individuals might help.*
Although the underlying cause of ASD is unclear, researchers now believe that ASD is associated with an unbalanced inflammatory response in the brain and in the gastrointestinal tract.
Multiple ASD symptoms—including behavioral symptoms like irritability and selective feeding—might be caused by this circumstance. This means that if an individual with autism can achieve a more balanced inflammatory response in their body with the right nutritional supplement, then a broad range of interconnected symptoms might benefit.* Although a variety of nutritional supplements might potentially help maintain the body’s normal inflammatory response, there is one nutrient that can be supplemented that is particularly promising for individuals with autism: glutathione.*
Glutathione provides a compelling approach as a natural remedy because of its powerful and safe antioxidant effects.* All cells in the body produce glutathione, making it a fully natural, biocompatible nutrient that can be supplemented without the risk of experiencing serious side effects or negative reactions.*
Furthermore, glutathione affects different inflammatory response pathways within cells than over-the-counter drugs, meaning that glutathione can be used in conjunction with such drugs without the risk of dangerous drug interactions.* More significantly, glutathione supplements promote the ability of cells to protect themselves from things that cause an unbalanced inflammatory response in the first place, like oxidative stress, making glutathione supplementation a particularly exciting possibility.*
Understanding the Need for Glutathione Supplementation
Oxidative stress occurs when the body’s cells are exposed to things that damage DNA, like inhaled smoke or ultraviolet light. When the body encounters oxidative stress, glutathione molecules in the cell react with the foreign molecules that are the sources of the oxidative stress, preventing them from adversely affecting healthy cells.* In the process, the cellular glutathione 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. The body also rapidly recycles glutathione, ensuring there is always enough on hand to deflect potential damage. If, however, the body doesn’t have sufficient stores of glutathione to protect itself, then harm is likely to occur.
When cells detect oxidative stress and are unprotected by glutathione, an out of balance inflammatory response can occur. Patients with autism appear to have unusually high levels of oxidative stress in both their brains and their gastrointestinal tract, which helps to explain why they experience so much unbalanced inflammatory response in these areas. This additional oxidative stress isn’t connected to additional exposure from environmental factors; because individuals with autism are no more likely to be exposed to UV light or cigarette smoke than anyone else, some researchers suspect it might be caused by inefficient glutathione synthesis or recycling.
Indeed, studies have found that individuals 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 a primary main tool to otherwise help maintain a normal inflammatory response in their brains.*
Although the mechanism causing this deficiency is unclear, researchers have shown that it is feasible to replace the missing glutathione with a glutathione nutritional supplement, thus helping to maintain the brain’s normal inflammatory response and providing multiple benefits to the user.*
The Far-Reaching Impact of the Body’s Inflammatory Response
Maintaining a normal inflammatory response is critical for individuals with ASD, because an imbalanced inflammatory response can cause significant discomfort that has broad-reaching implications for overall well-being. In the gastrointestinal tract, for example, an imbalanced inflammatory response can lead to constipation, bloating, and pain, which can cause both emotional and behavioral disturbances in response to the physical discomfort. Meanwhile, an imbalanced inflammatory response in the brain can contribute to behavioral difficulties even more directly; it can cause 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 the brain’s inflammatory response 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 this circumstance.
By helping to maintain a normal inflammatory response, glutathione supplementation has the potential to help respond beneficially to the burdensome symptoms of ASD and improve overall quality of life on a daily basis.* Autistic individuals might find they are able to communicate more effectively and experience less anxiousness when their levels of oxidative stress are lower.* Likewise, they might 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 helping to maintain a normal inflammatory response throughout the body, glutathione might help autistic individuals experience positive physical and emotional changes.*
Choosing the Best Glutathione Supplement
For caregivers who are interested in a natural remedy that can address autism symptoms, glutathione supplementation can be an exciting new option.*
However, choosing the best supplement is essential for optimizing the benefits of glutathione. Selecting a glutathione nutritional supplement from a trusted manufacturer, such as Tesseract Medical Research, ensures you are receiving a supplement that has been calibrated specifically to support the body’s ability to control oxidative stress.* For many, this nutritional support can be an invaluable addition to a comprehensive remedial plan, ultimately enhancing the lives of the entire family.
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 neurological health.*
Works Cited
- Theoharides TC, Asadi S, Patel AB. 2013. Journal of Neuroinflammation. 10:46.
- Smaga I, Niedzielska E, Gawlik M, et al. 2015. Pharmacology Reports. 67(3):569-580.
- Ghanizadeh A, Akhondazedeh S, Hormozi M, et al. 2012. Current Medicinal Chemistry. 19(23):4000-4005.
- Kern JK, Geier DA, Adams JB, et al. 2011. Medical Science Monitor. 17(12): CR677-682.
- Depino AM. 2013. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. 53:69-76.
- Ghanizadeh A, Akhondzadeh S, Hormozi M, et al. 2012. Current Medicinal Chemistry. 19(23):4000-4005.
