Nutraceuticals and nootropics for anti-aging

N-acetylcysteine — a promising supplement for preventing autism

Glutathione is an antioxidant compound made in the body from three amino acids: cysteine, glutamine and glycine. In addition to its antioxidant functions, glutathione is involved in protein synthesis, amino acid transport, and in the recycling of other antioxidants, such as vitamin C.

Glutathione is now in the news — again — for its connection to autism. “Again”? Yes, it has now been 26 years since the first research paper was published that linked low glutathione levels with autism. Since then, almost nothing has been accomplished by the medical research establishment to understand this connection and to exploit it to treat or prevent autism.

The suggestion has been made repeatedly in the medical literature that low glutathione levels would leave a child’s brain vulnerable to free-radical damage, particularly if the child is exposed to heavy metals, such as mercury. Nevertheless, autism ‘experts’ are still bickering over whether to suggest the use of antioxidant supplements to autistic children or to those genetically at high risk for it.

In one of the latest studies, researchers at the University of Arkansas showed that in blood samples from autistic children, the active form of glutathione was reduced by about 80 percent as compared with that in non-autistic children. The leader of the research team suggested that it wouldn’t be unreasonable for parents of autistic children to talk with their child’s doctor about giving them antioxidant supplements since these supplements are non-toxic. But even this timid suggestion came under attack by an ‘expert’ at The Johns Hopkins Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Epidemiology, whose response was: “This is an interesting study and worth some more follow-up, but for parents or clinicians, it’s an item of note, not a call to action. There are no leaps to be made about using antioxidants as a therapeutic agent.” (The message from Johns Hopkins seems to be: “Wait another 30 or 40 years for plodding medical professionals to test this concept, and then maybe we’ll award it our Seal of Reluctant Approval.”)

Glutathione levels are most easily raised by taking the supplement N-acetylcysteine.

Link to news article:

Antioxidant Levels May be Linked to Autism

Links to research articles:

[Alterations in two enzymes: superoxide dismutase and glutathion peroxidase in developmental infantile psychosis (infantile autism) (article in French)]

Investigation of antioxidant enzymes in children with autistic disorder.

Changes in nitric oxide levels and antioxidant enzyme activities may have a role in the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in autism.

Metabolic biomarkers of increased oxidative stress and impaired methylation capacity in children with autism.

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LifeLink carries N-acetylcysteine in 600 mg tablets.