Today I had a conversation with the parent of an autistic child. I have seen this pattern with other ASD children: High levels of lactobacillus and thus lactic acid production.
Consequences of lactic acid production
I have had to deal with lactic acid acidosis with ME/CFS which often results in issues such as:
- Slow memory processing speed
- Poor memory
- Poor executive decision / loss of focus
These are also reported with some autistic children. From the literature we see:
- Autism and Lactic Acidosis, 1985
- Vitamin B Deficiencies in a Critically Ill Autistic Child With a Restricted Diet , 2014 “Lactic acidosis improved rapidly with thiamine; 2 weeks later, status epilepticus-with low serum pyridoxine-resolved rapidly with pyridoxine. “
- Blood Lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Hemorheological Changes in Autistic Children [2013] “Early infantile autism is a severe form of childhood psychiatric disease with characteristic symptoms. Hyperserotoninaemia in 43.5%, lactic acidosis 43% and hyperpyruvataemia in 30% were biochemically demonstrated in autistic children. “
What can be done?
For more details see these older posts on my other blog.
- Approaches to D-Lactic Acidosis [2015]
- Bacopa monniera and Cognitive Function [2016]
- D-lactic Acidosis -Sauerkraut is not good for you if you have CFS! [2015]
- Reminder of D-Lactic acidosis and ME/CFS [2019]
Bottom Line
My suggestions (to be discussed with your medical professionals):
- No probiotics contains Lactobacillus
- No fermented foods (yogurts, kefir, etc)
- Thiamine or Benfotiamine (See this 2016 post) – note: “normal levels” may not be sufficient.
- Dietary supplementation with beta-glucan enriched oat bran increases faecal concentration of carboxylic acids in healthy subjects. and reduces lactic acid.
- Other items documented in the posts above.
For a list of foods that decreases or increases Lactobacillus, go to the bottom of this page and type “food” in the filter. Click Effect until you get it in decreasing order.
