autism and infant formula

Post Reply New Topic

You've just made another typical fallacious reasoning mistake. The burden is on you to prove you are right, not on us to prove you wrong.

I'll make it simple: please present research evidence, or shut up.

Again, going from potential toxicity to causing autism is a baseless and unscientific leap. All of what you are saying may indeed be true, but pulling out the autism card is a poor way to make an argument. This is not unlike the argument against vaccines. There may be, and likely are, unsafe preservatives and additives in vaccines. That does not mean that they cause autism. If you are so concerned with the ingredients in formula, then I suggest that you make fact-based arguments to the people empowered to do something about it. Please don't jump on the autism scapegoating bandwagon. It will not accomplish anything other than making yourself look like one of those crazy McJenny moms.

Here is some science for you.DHASCO and ARASCO should never be added with metals such as copper or iron.Why?Because it causes them to oxidize and spoil.Science tells me that through this Fenton reaction with ferrous sulfate(iron supplement added at twelve times the amount found in breast milk)you will yield neurotoxic breakdown components.F-2 and F-4 iso and neuro prostanes as well as other epoxy and carbon centered radicals.Where are these markers found in disease.Every neurodegenerative disease has elevated amounts of these components found in the brain.It is a condition referred to as oxidative stress.Oxidative stress will cause a mitochondrial dysfunction.Dr. Jon Poling,a neurologist from Georgia,has a daughter Hannah who has a mitochondrial dysfunction.He proved that this underlying condition caused his daughter to become autistic after a series of vaccinations.He prevailed in a court of law.Recently there has been perchlorate and cyanuric acid found in infant formula.Ingedients that are found in rocket fuel and explosives.How do you naturally form perchlorate?Hydoxyl radicals.Where do hydroxyl radicals come from?Peroxidation of DHA and ARA.What affect does this have on PPARs and G coupled protein receptors?What affect does DHASCO have as a voltage gated potassium channel blocker and downstream events related to second messenger function?How is a mitochondrial dysfunction responsible for regulation of calcium homeostasis and its effects on glutamate receptors? These are a few questions that I have researched.Do you want to talk about science?

Exactly what bandwagon am I on? Oh, the dedicated research bandwagon.It has been my pleasure studying the complexities of neuroscience.It's been difficult but I do it for my son.As far as I know,nobody has found causation for asd.Maybe I should stop studying and watch tv.After all,when has hard work and dedication ever accomplished anything?By the way,I was a pro-se litigant v. Mead Johnson regarding the safety of their infant formula.The judge thought that the evidence and written expert report I had submitted to Federal Court was so ridiculous that she has allowed time for me to gather more support.Is this what you mean by talking to the proper people?Studying tort injury law is almost as fun as neuroscience.Pro-se means that I was the attorney representing my son.What have you done lately?

Blah, blah, blah. Why are you coming to an autism community comprised of people who already have autism (many for a very long time) or who have family members with autism and ranting on about your personal findings as to why. As I said before, many of us believe it to be genetic, and many of us are happy with ourselves and our loved ones just the way we/they are. Some of us even feel it is a gift , if you could even imagine. Now I fully understand that autism is a spectrum and some are more severely affected than others. I understand that some absolutely need to know why, but some of us would rather put our focus and energies on improving the lives of those already affected. You may be on to something, who knows, but you're telling the wrong people! We prefer hanging out with our kids, rather than focussing on the why's and what if's.

The CRAZY thing is that pesky HIMSELF proved himself wrong! He FIRST said DHA and ARA were dangerous and THEN said that they were NECESSARY, and he meant DHASCO and ARASCO.

BTW the FTC should FINE "Martek Biosciences Corporation" for DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING! They are marketing products that they OFFICIALLY acknowledge are DIFFERENT(hence the trademark) using a VERY similar name that was OBVIOUSLY made to mislead!

Still, I have to say that, in looking for some things, I found THIS:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/gmf-agm/ap ... co-eng.php

The Canadians have been VERY strict concerning imports from the U.S. THIS site declares that canada considers this stuff ok. Again, that isn't GOSPEL, but at least it isn't known to be real bad, etc...

I said that natural DHA/ARA are essential fatty acids needed for proper development.I never said that DHASCO/ARASCO were natural or safe.I said that the scientific and medical community have no idea how DHASCO/ARASCO are metabolized in the human body and are still researching natural DHA/ARA.I guess it is alright to add supplements that do not produce the results that they are claimed to produce.Its ok to add something that affects gender differently and not know why or how.Its ok to mislead parent to believe these supplements are safe and natural.My son is severely autistic.I have yet to find anyone who would call his condition a gift.Some people actually want to find a cause.Some people actually would give their life to help their child.I am on this site to reveal what I have learned.If you are not interested,than why are you on my discussion?Some people don't like deception and paying extra for it.You might be an exception to the rule.Who would want to receive a gift like severe autism?

NO, I am interested. I said MYSELF that that company should be FINED for misleading the public. And yeah, you DID later say natural, etc... I was kind of half teasing you.

As for autism being a gift, MOST people that think that are either HFA or AS and relatively mildly affected.

MOST people having an autistic or AS child see it in the WORST light. Of course, you said YOUR son is SEVERELY autistic. That is NOT in the group I spoke of earlier. I don't think ANYONE would fault you for being upset at ANYONE doing anything that could contribute to such things. I am certainly not doing that.

formula manufacturers have a history of putting stuff on the market that is either 1. lacking in correct nutrition, or 2. toxic for babies. when they are found out, they donate the bad formula to third world countries so mothers stop breast-feeding and thus create a new market.

it's true that babies are lab rats. anti-bacterial chew toys for babies? anti-bacterial soap and wipes? infant formula? none of it is tested for neurological effects on the developing brain.

because of that, no link to autism can be made, nor should we make one, although I think it is a good idea to hold untested food and cleaning additives suspect until they are properly tested.

btw, I was breast-fed in the 60s when it was still illegal to breastfeed in public. I also breast-fed both my kids, my NLD son until he was 18 months old. no formula at all.

I appreciate that.Look,I am not saying that I have found the cause of 100% of asd.I have done the research and what I have discovered raises some very serious safety concerns.These companies are profiting and compromising safety.If their DHASCO/ARASCO had no benefit and was safe,I would have only paid extra money for it.When the science reveals how dangerous these components can be,an extensive safety reevaluation is warranted.What did these companies do after they had hundreds of reports of serious gastrointestinal disorders?They discontinued non supplemented formula.The only relief some of these infants had was when they switched to formulas NOT containing DHASCO/ARASCO.For those who have to formula feed,and your infant cannot tolerate these novel oils,you may not have an alternative.These reports to the FDA are on my website.They are from real people who experienced real serious feeding problems.Now the manufacturer can continue to sell its product and not have an unsupplemented version to compare benefits or adverse reactions to.Pretty smart.

Saying that "DHASCO/ARASCO is unsafe" is one thing; saying that its consumption causes autism is a quantum leap of logic. Surely even you can see that that leap of logic should have broken your legs.

I'm sorry that it can't be easily explained in simple english.You need to be familiar with scientific and medical terms.For example-If catalase or superoxide dismutase is depleted free radical oxygen and nitrogen radical species may cause neuronal apoptosis or necrosis.Whether this statement is accurate or not,you first need to understand terminology-you must also understand the science.You understand neither but yet question my theory.Scientific leap with broken legs.If you combine components that become neurotoxic you may have a product,that when consumed as the sole source of nutrition,will lead to cognive and neurological decline.Don't talk about things you have very little or no knowledge about.Maybe I'm wrong.Why would adding neuroprostanes or isofuranes to infant formula be detrimental?

Another critic that can't answer a simple scientific question.Wow, beat up the new guy that's trying to keep infants safe from harm.You ask me to verify the claims that I have made.When I do,you don't understand the scientific explaination that I give.Then you tell me I am making scientific leaps that are false.In plain english and simple terms:DHA/ARA combined with ferrous sulfate=fenton reaction=f-2 isoprostanes,f-4 neuroprostanes.Don't get it -Google it-Then return and tell why these things are safe in infant formula.You probably won't understand it,but give it a shot.At least you will know how little you really know.I'm not the one pretending to know everything.I'm the one trying to keep infants safe and that would make you the one defending the drug companies.

Infant Formula and Increase in Autism

My name is Michael Pescatore and my son Joseph is severely autistic.He was born without complications and was developing normally.At about 14 months of age he started to lose acquired language and display autistic-like behavior. He does not speak and is now four and a half years old.He is the youngest of my four children.He is also the first autistic child throughout our extended families.I am guessing that I can rule out family history.
I have spent the past three years researching causation.I started at the beginning,since that seemed like the logical place to start. What I have found leads me to believe that autism is a man made disease. For causation to be determined several conditions must be satisfied. Vaccinations with mercury,bottles made from BPA,cell phone radiation and several other theories have emerged from desperate parents searching for a cause. Although I don't totally disagree that some of these things may be harmful, they also do not explain or satisfy several facts.
Here are a few well know facts about autism:
The rate of autism has increased from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 150 since the early 1980's.
It affect males more frequently than females with a ratio of 4:1.
The increase has been seen globally.
Autistic children suffer from digestive issues. Casein and Gluten protein intolerance.
Regressive autism is associated with vaccination injury suggesting compromised immune system.
Autistic children are deficient in anti-oxidant lines of defense implicating oxidative stress.
I will try to satisfy these facts:
Since the early 1980's infant formula manufacturers have constantly changed the fats and composition of their products. They introduced MCT oil (medium chain triglyceride oil),hydrolyzed proteins,and finally Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (LCPUFAs).

DHA and ARA are now added to infant formula as a marketing tool. Their claim is improvement in brain and eye development. These LCPUFAs are considered essential fatty acids. They can only be made in the human body from elongation and desaturation of precursor fatty acids found in diet. Females are more efficient at this process than males. This establishes two important facts. Females are better equipped to produce more and protect from excessive dietary supply. It is important to note that recently the manufacturer of these supplements released the results of a clinical study in Jan.2009. At five times the current dosage in infant formula, some benefit has been found for females while none for males. Overall,when all results were examined,there was no benefit of DHA/ARA supplementation. Not only does does it affect gender differently,but parents are paying extra for a benefit that doesn't exist. The manufacturer is unaware of the reason for this discrepancy.

DHA/ARA infant formula is available worldwide. It is an environmental factor. Since diets around the world are so different it has been overlooked as a contributing factor. If a sole source of nutrition during critical stages of development is important, one must know that it is safe. The FDA has labeled DHASCO/ARASCO (DHA single cell organism/ ARA single cell organism) supplementation as Generally Regarded As Safe. The responsibility of safety is left up to the infant formula manufacturer.

DHASCO/ARASCO are structurally different than natural DHA/ARA found in breast milk. They are extracted from algae and fungus by hexane. The structural differences lie in the esterification of the triglyceride. I will not go in to too much detail. DHASCO and ARASCO are devoid of palmitic and oleic acids that are normally found in breast milk. These saturated fatty acids are critical for proper protein to protein signaling. Saturated fat and polyunsaturated fat are incompatible. Incorporation of LCPUFAs through diet will drive saturated fat out of cellular membranes. This may cause a disruption of palmitoylation. This disruption will alter proper digestion and protein signaling involved with neurotransmission.

DHA is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It counters the inflammatory properties of ARA. The way that it exerts this is still unknown. DHA is also known to suppress the immune system.Dr.Jon Poling has a daughter with autism. Recently he settled out of court over a complaint regarding vaccination injury. His daughter,Hannah,had an underlying condition called a mitochondrial dysfunction. This condition caused his daughter to become autistic immediately following a series of vaccinations. Ironically,being a neurologist,he has researched and written several publications on DHA.DHA will cause a mitochondrial dysfunction when uncontrollable oxidation occurs. This is a reaction called oxidative stress. How does oxidative stress initiate? Add DHA to ferrous sulfate and a Fenton reaction will occur. Ferrous sulfate is the iron supplement added to infant formula. Note that the manufacturer of DHASCO and ARASCO has a specific final step in processing that removes trace metals from DHASCO and ARASCO to keep it from oxidizing. They are also aware that their product will be added to an iron fortified infant formula. They,not unlike the FDA,are not responsible for infant formula safety.

I tried to keep it short and to the point. The science involved is very complicated and most of it is still under investigation. Almost every scientific and medical publication that I have read has determined the same thing. The exact mechanisms involved with DHA and ARA metabolism warrant further research. My theory of today's infant formula causing autism may seem completely ridiculous. What I find even more ridiculous is the fact that infant formula supplements may be added as long as they are generally regarded as safe. After 176 pages of adverse reports to the FDA and failure to establish a benefit, the infant formula companies continue to profit on deception and lack of concern for safety. "Does it pick my pocket or break my leg?"Abraham Lincoln-It does both.

I have so much more to share including my complaint v. Mead Johnson and its outcome.Feel free to contact me anytime.

Warmest regards,
Michael Pescatore
pesky5150@msn.com

Sounds like a great hypothesis. So take it one step further and find some studies (real scientific studies, mind you, since you like waving the science flag so strongly) that show that consuming these neurotoxins leads to autism. Until then, this hypothesis has no more credibility than the premise that vaccines cause autism. Oh, wait... it appears that you believe that, too.


This is a theory that has been disproven repeatedly by science.


If that is the case, why did you list your diagnosis as "Other autism spectrum disorder" instead of "Family member with Asperger's"?

Mr. Pescatore, I would like to suggest that you simply joined WrongPlanet so that you could barrage us with your hypothesis. I don't see an introductory post or anything in your wording that indicates you are at all interested in this community. Please come back when you really do want to engage in open dialog on autism.

+1

I wouldn't even drink from a bottle until after I was 1. I threw a huge fit if you came anywhere near me with one