Autism One 2009 Conference

Chicago, IL.
May, 2009

Unprovoked Seizures in Autistic Individuals

Tapan Audhya, PhD

New York University, NY & Vitamin Diagnostics, NJ
 Seizure (Sudden, Abnormal electrical activity in brain)

Partial seizure (Focal, sensory or petit mal) Generalized seizure

(one part of brain; particularly the site which (Both site of brain)
directs “flight” response; conscious; either Unconscious; Both tonic
and clonic
tonic or clonic)

Simple Complex
(No loss of consciousness)

Epilepsy – a recurrent seizure

Non-epileptic Seizure – Similar to epileptic.
Seizure but not caused by electrical disruption of cerebral cortex.
Classified as 1) physiologic or 2) psychogenic
 Nutritional Status of Autistic
Children with Seizure
Age Group
4 -16 years ; N = 89 (Boys - 66, Girls – 23)
Repetitive Epileptic Seizure
1-7.2 min (mean – 4.0 min)
3 - 4 times a day
ICD-9 → 345.4;345.9;343.4;299.0
Epileptic Seizure was confirmed by EEG on
29 boys and 5 girls
17 children had spinal tap for unrelated reason
 Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamin B1 in Plasma Vitamin B6 in Plasma
32 low, 57 normal 30 low, 40 high, 44 low in P-5-P
Biotin in Plasma Folic Acid in Plasma
23 low, 43 normal Low only in those children who take
These children were also hypoglycemic anticonvulsant medication. 11 children
had problem with impaired transport of
folate across the BBB. 8/14 low in CSF
Vitamin E in Plasma Vitamin D in Plasma
45 low, 2 high, 42 normal 27 low in D3;
(all of them had anticonvulsant medication)

Minerals
Magnesium Selenium
39 low in plasma 8/17 low in CSF
19 low in RBC 20 low in Plasma
10 low in WBC
10/17 low in CSF
Manganese Calcium
32 low in plasma & RBC 10/17 high in CSF
16 low in Plasma
5 high in RBC
 Protein & Amino Acids
Prolactin
199 amino acid, Hypothalamic peptide & controlled
by Dopamine
21 boys and 3 girls had high plasma prolactin
(2 -3x the normal levels)
11 boys & 3 girls had low Dopamine
Glutamate
14/17 high glutamate in CSF, 42 high in Plasma

Aspertate
14 high in Plasma & CSF

Taurine
10/17 low in CSF, 34 low in Plasma

GABA
13/17 low in CSF, 28 high in Plasma, 59 low in Plasma
 Synthesis of GABA and α-
Ketoglutarate

Decarboxylase
P-5-P
GABA
Glutamine → Glutamate Transaminase
α-Ketoglutarate
P-5-P
 Glutathione Peroxidase

26 low normal
34 less than half the normal value

Free Radical Oxygen

SOD

H202
Glutathione Peroxidase (GP)

H20 + 02
GP
GSH GSSG
GR
 Autism, Seizure & Neurotransmitters
(NT)
NTs are chemicals that transfer information from one neuron to another

NTs have two basic functions

• Inform receiving neuron to “Fire” Excitatory
• Inform receiving neuron to stop “Firing” Inhibitory

These actions of NTs depend on a class of proteins which is known

as receptors.
These receptors initiate the activity after receiving the NTs.

GABA, for example, binds to receptors which are inhibitory.

Most anti anxiety medications increase GABA transmission

More GABA receptor activation Shut down the CNS
Relaxation
 GABA Receptor

GABAergic system in cerebellum and limbic structure

in affected in autism. Inhibition of this system is
suppressed by
2. Impairment of GABA-receptor
3. Antagonism of GABAergic neurons bearing
receptors sensitive to glutamate analog NMDA.
Example:
Pathology relating to GABA receptors and suspected etiologies of
autism
Excessive glutamate activation of non-NMDA glutamate receptor –
Pathology observed in Autism
 GABA Receptor submit Genes in Autism
Chromosome GABA-receptor
Subunit Gene
4p12 GABRG1
-A2
-A4
-B1
5q34 -B2
-A6
-A1
-G2
-P
6q15 -R1
-R2
15q12 -A5
-B3
-G3

Only GABR A4 is involved in the etiology of autism and gene – gene

interaction between GABR A4 and GABR B1
GABAA Receptor
GABAA Receptor
Controlling Seizures by Nutritional Approach
Ketogenic Diet : A diet high in fats, low in protein and carbohydrate.
Fat: (carb + protein) = 4:1
However, never make too low carb (Hypoglycemia) Medium chain
Triglycerides (MCT) are more ketogenic.

Taurine 500 mg/day; Vit – B1 20 mg/day

divided in
Folic Acid3 400
batches
mcg/day Vit – B12 200 mcg/day

Vit B6 20 mg/kg Body wt. Mg 400 mg/day

Mn 5 mg/day Zn 20 mg/day

DMG 100 mg/day Se 100 mcg/day

L-Carnitine 100 mg/day Vit. E (natural) 100 mg/day

L-carnosine 250 mg/2 x day