The Microbiome & Autism

The Microbiome & Autism

At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we understand the important relationship that exists between the microbiome and autism. Researchers are conducting studies to determine how the state of the microbiome affects people with autism. Evidence has come to two conclusions about the microbiome and autism:

1. There is a potential relationship between intestinal microbes and autism, indicating that this relationship may even increase symptoms or be the cause of certain symptoms.¹
2. “Research suggests that as many as 9 out of 10 individuals with the condition also suffer from gastrointestinal problems such as inflammatory bowel disease and leaky gut.”²

Additional research is needed and is being conducted; however, in the meantime, we check our patients for gastrointestinal problems and treat them with herbal supplements and antibiotics if necessary.

Understanding the microbiome and autism

It’s helpful to understand the microbiome and autism. The microbiome is comprised of 100 trillion microbial cells that inhabit the body. The microbial cells in the human gut are also known as “gut flora,” and they are responsible for several important functions in the body, including:

• Absorption and breakdown of nutrients
• Producing vitamins
• Protecting the body against pathogens
• Helping balance the immune system

We work to balance the microbiome

At our functional medicine clinic near Milwaukee, we believe that the relationship between the microbiome and autism is important. As part of our biomedical intervention for any underlying medical issues that people with autism may have, we test for gastrointestinal imbalances. We attack the problem in different ways, including:

• Specific dietary changes
• Herbal supplements
• Antibiotics, if necessary

Another problem we address is yeast overgrowth, or candidiasis, which is related to the microbiome and autism. To have a healthy gut, people need to have a good balance between yeast and good bacteria, but yeast overgrowth is a problem for many people with autism. Conventional medicine practitioners often ignore this problem. At our clinic, we attack yeast with a three-pronged approach that gets rid of yeast already in the colon; limits sources that provide yeast to the diet; and restores beneficial bacteria in the colon.

Patients with autism benefit from our Autism Care program

In addition to addressing the microbiome and autism, our Autism Care program focuses on the whole patient, not just a series of symptoms. We check for toxins, yeast, imbalances in the gastrointestinal system, thyroid issues, and mitochondrial and adrenal issues. In short, we perform tests and examine patients to discover any underlying medical issues.

^1,2 Scientific American