Posted on June 4, 2015 by admin
It’s understandable that parents of children with autism
spectrum disorder (ASD) are eager to find a way to help their kids overcome the
problems associated with their conditions — perhaps there’s a lack of some
micronutrients that make the situation worse. Or perhaps a special diet will
improve a child’s status. But sometimes the “treatment” is not what it’s
advertised to be. So it seems to be with vitamin/mineral supplementation,
according to a study
published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Led by Dr. Patricia A. Stewart of the University of
Rochester Medical Center, investigators examined the intake of foods and
supplements by 288 children aged 2-11 years who had been diagnosed with ASD.
Their main outcome measure was the percent of the children who met or exceeded
the upper limits of micronutrient intake.
About 56 percent of the children used dietary
supplements. In spite of that, the most common micronutrient deficits were not
corrected — even after supplementation over 40 percent lacked calcium, and over
30 percent were low in vitamin D. In addition, many children with ASD are on a
gluten-free and casein– free (GFCF) diet in the hopes that such a treatment
will help their condition. But their calcium intake was still low, although
their vitamin D intake had improved. On the other hand, many of the supplement
users in the study actually exceeded the Tolerable Upper Limit for safe intake
levels of vitamin A, folic acid, and zinc.
ACSH’s Dr. Ruth Kava said “The idea that extra vitamins
and minerals can improve complex disorders such as ASD is too simplistic. Such
supplementation should be used to be sure that nutrition is adequate, not to
treat other conditions.”
ACSH scientific advisor Dr. Marvin Schissel, who is quite
experienced with the manifold types of quackery exploiting families with ASD
children, added, “I agree that nutritional supplementation without supervision
is pointless or worse. Specialty diets do not prevent or help autism. Of course
if a deficiency is properly diagnosed then supplementation is appropriate.”
Posted on June 4, 2015 by admin
Here we go again. The NYTimes’ columnist Nick Kristof has
wandered away from his “saving the world’s underprivileged” bailiwick to once
again scare-mong about “toxic chemicals,” this time in popcorn — and that’s not
the only dangerous item! No siree.
Continue reading →
Continue reading →
Posted on June 4, 2015 by admin
This week saw the unfortunate passing of Vice President
Joe Biden’s son Beau, who succumbed to brain cancer. What happened to Beau, who
was just 46 years old, is a sad reminder of just how far we are from having
effective treatments for many deadly cancers, in particular brain cancer. It
however is not a sad reminder for everyone. For those who oppose superfluous
things like logic and reason, Beau’s untimely passing is a golden opportunity
to remind Continue reading →
Posted on June 3, 2015 by admin
We at ACSH have been writing about the dire situation we
face because of antibiotic resistance for years. Both Dr. Josh Bloom and ACSH
advisor Dr. David Shlaes—a world renowned expert in the field—have written many
times about the looming antibiotic crisis, a time when common infections that
were previously treatable are no longer so Continue reading→
Posted on June 3, 2015 by admin
CDC Follies, part two. No, part three. Well, whatever:
our nation’s chief repository of biological threats (i.e. bioterror weapons,
potentially) resembles the gang that couldn’t shoot straight. They keep spreading
lethal organisms around. Continue reading→
Posted on June 3, 2015 by admin
this commercial made for Citi that makes the following
claim: “For the first time American kids are slated to live a shorter lifespan
than their parents.” This has to be false. Please investigate. Continue reading→
Posted on June 3, 2015 by admin
Previous studies have suggested that pregnant women
taking a commonly-prescribed class of antidepressants called selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) late in pregnancy may be associated with
an increased risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).
PPHN (also known as persistent fetal circulation) is a Continue reading→
Posted on June 2, 2015 by admin
It’s well known that breastfeeding is beneficial for both
mother and child in a variety of ways—in addition to the transfer of natural
antibodies, it is associated with lower risks of allergic diseases, lower
respiratory infections and middle ear infections. Continue reading→
Posted on June 2, 2015 by admin
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the presence of
abnormal cells inside a milk duct in the breast. DCIS is considered the
earliest form of breast cancer, and is the most common type of non-invasive
breast cancer. DCIS Continue reading→
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