In a recent study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from UC Davis concluded that children age 2-5 years with autism showed greater evidence of oxidative stress than a control cohort of typically developing children.

10 children participating in the Childhood Autism Risk From Genes and Environmental study in California were enrolled in a study in which blood lymphocytes (white blood cells) were analyzed for signs of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. The researchers concluded that children with autism were more likely to have mitochondrial dysfunction than typically developing children.

In other words, the mitochondria, which are the organelles inside cells that convert dietary energy into cellular energy, were measurably dysfunctional. Without properly functioning mitochondria, cells cannot efficiently convert food into energy. This would explain the sporadic inheritance pattern of autism as well as the increased effect on organs with high energy requirement, such as the brain and gastrointestinal tract.

Other studies have suggested such a connection in the past (see references below). However, it remains unknown if mitochondrial dysfunction is a CAUSE or an EFFECT of autism. Nevertheless, certain foods may exert greater oxidative stress than others, which would explain why food elimination diets could exert a beneficial effect on autistic children.

In summary, if autism and oxidative stress were linked, it would support the clinical benefit of elimination diets and supplementation with antioxidants.

For more information, email Dr. Kahana at doron@doronkahana.com. Dr. Kahana is a Board-certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Clinical Nutrition Specialist. He has a special interest in nutritional therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder and neurodevelopmental disabilities.

References:

Giulivi C, Zhang YF, Omanska-Klusek A, et al. Mitochondrial dysfunction in autism. JAMA 2010; 304:2389-96. Haas RH. Autism and mitochondrial disease. Dev Dis Res Rev 2010; 16:144-153. Palmieri L, Persico AM. Mitochondrial dysfunction in autism disorders: Cause or effect? Bioch Biophys Acta 2010; 1797:1130-37. Weissman JR, Kelley RI, Bauman ML, et al. Mitochondrial disease in autism spectrum disorder patients: A cohort analysis. PLoS 2008; 3(11):e3815.