EXCERPTED from........
FEAT DAILY NEWSLETTER
Sacramento, California http://www.feat.org
December 4, 2001
News Morgue Search www.feat.org/search/news.asp
·
Harvard Clinic Scientist Finds Gut/Autism Link,
Like Wakefield Finding
Dr. Timothy Buie, a pediatric gastroenterologist from
Harvard/Mass General Hospital has performed over 400 gastrointestinal
endoscopies with biopsies, as well as evaluation of digestive enzyme function
in children diagnosed with autism and finding a connection. The results of his
testing are similar to the observations made by Dr. Andrew Wakefield regarding
the presence of chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract, although the incidence
was noted to be less frequent in his group.
Dr. Buie announced his findings last Saturday at the Oasis
2001 Conference for Autism in Portland, Oregon, the day before the announcement
of Wakefield’s forced departure from Royal Free in the UK.
The biopsy results indicated the presence of chronic
inflammation of the digestive tract including esophagitis, gastritis and
enterocolitis along with the presence of Iymphoid nodular hyperplasia in 15 of
89 children. Additionally the results
of the enzyme testing of Dr. Buie’s patients paralleled that of Dr. Karoly
Horvath and colleagues at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Buie found that the autistic children he
examined showed disaccbaride/glucoamylase enzyme levels below normal. Some 55%
of these children had lactase deficiencies (which breaks down lactose in milk)
as well as deficiencies of the enzyme sucrase (responsible for digestion of
table sugar).
The findings also lend support to anecdotal reports of
improvement of some autistic children on wheat and dairy (gluten, casein) free
diets. Buie says that Harvard wants to
do research into the use of protein enzyme supplements, which aid in the
digestion of wheat and milk products for treatment.
Buie echoed the opinion of other a growing number of
clinical researchers and practitioners treating autistic patients, “these
children are ill, in distress and pain, and not just mentally, neurologically dysfunctional.”
[The FEAT Newsletter will provide more details of Dr. Buie’s
research shortly. For more information
on enzyme supplements, contact http://www.gfcfdiet.com/Enzymes.htm#* This is a non-commercial, parent-run website.
–LS]
* * *
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