Can someone talk to me about enzymes (for ASD)?

[catski]

In view of my son's recent good progress we have decided to try him with casein and gluten again over the next few months. I emailed the Sunderland autism research unit (or ESPA as they're now known) and they suggested using an enzyme in combination with reintroducing casein/gluten. I was told to try and get either peptidase or enzymeaid, but I don't seem to be able to find either to buy. Does anyone know where I can buy them from (have tried www.mandimart.co.uk but they don't seem to stock those particular enzymes).

Also, does anyone have any experience with using enzymes on very young children? My son is only 3.3 and I don't know if enzymes are suitable for that age.

Any advice gratefully received!

have a look at the treating autism website - listed on is a yahoo group 'autism biomedical europe' or somehting similar that you can join where there are people who i am sure can help you.

enzymes are suitable for pretty much any age.
They break down the protreins in the food that cause the problems for some kids with asd. The idea is that you take an enzyme with/ before the food and the enzyme deals with it.

FWIW my DS2 wouldn't /couldn't take them and when he did they didn't seem to help - he still reacted.
But lots do have success.

I know Mandi of mandi mart and she knows her stuff. the enzymes she stocks will be good but different enzymes work for different foods so you need to take the right ones IYSWIM
Why don't you email her and ask her for a good alternative depending on what foods your DC should avoid
HTHs

I haven't used enzymes with dd1 (still reading up/gearing up for a trial)

dh has been a semi guinea pig for me, and has taken some to combat his dairy intolerance. they work for him, really well, and he is able to eat a "normal" meal eg if we go to a wedding or something, and he would rather scoff cheesecake than make a fuss about a special meal.

I think the brand he has used is Houston Enzymes, and they have worked well for him.

As pagwatch says, there are different enzymes to counteract different substances, and afaik there is no minmum age restriction - they are, after all, natural digestive enzymes.

Thank you very much for that - I will follow up your suggestions.

(Sorry for my slow reply btw - have been a bit manic with youngest in hospital (nothing serious) and taking the slow way back to sweden from england).

Can I ask what 'research' you're doing before you do a trail silverfrog? Other than that advice from sunderland I really haven't found much advice anywhere. Gastroenterologist said to introduce one a time which was pretty obvious, but nothing more than that. I've been doing the ATEC checklist in reverse (if you see what I mean) as a means of trying to measure if there's any worsening behaviour. It's really hard to tell if there is or not as his symptoms have always been very mild. I've been wondering if there's been an increase in echolalia (husband thinks not) but then that's offset by a step forward in potty training and slightly increased imaginative play (or is that a product of my imagination!) so it feels a bit like swings and roundabouts.

This is the ATEC checklist I mean:
www.autism.com/pdf/individuals/atec_form.pdf

trail? I meant trial!

erm, just lots of reading - here, and places like Treating Autism, etc.

I do have a book somewhere, sent as part of joining TA, I think - will have a hunt and see what it is called, hang on....

this is the book - haven't read all of it, and the bit I have read is a while back - statementing, and schooling, got in the way a bit for us - must hunt it out again, and have a good read.

Ooh, good book recommendation - thanks.