ANTIBIOTICS
Why do my son's autism symptoms improve when he is sick or on an antibiotic?
When you don't have enough MAO-A it causes your immune system to get imbalanced, which causes high inflammation. The TH1 immune response goes sky high. Taking an antibiotic suppresses that so the body can get a rest. A person with autism has high TH1, which should be balanced with TH2. All the lactic acid that they are producing, because the mitochondria is not working as it should be due to low MAO-A, is also producing high inflammation. The antibiotic suppresses the immune system and lowers the inflammation, which is why kids with autism behave favorably when on one or when they are sick with a fever...but it is not a permanent fix and is usually only temporary. The real issue is the low MAO-A to begin with.
ANTIDEPRESSANTS
Is it okay to put my son on an antidepressant?
Antidepressants are serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Any serotonin that doesn't get converted into its active aldehyde by the MAO-A gets transported back to the pre-synaptic neuron that was releasing it. Then it stimulates the 5HT1A receptor, which then shuts down the release of serotonin into the synapse. SSRIs block the transport of the unconverted serotonin, so the serotonin builds up in the synapse. Because of this, your son will end up being more hyper as there will be more serotonin in the synapse for the MAO-A to convert into its active aldehyde. It will make it so he gets more giddy because it blocks the uptake of serotonin AND norepinephrine. It's a tri-cyclic and you have to be careful with it. The half-life is 20 - 40 hours.
CALCIUM
I have symptoms of low calcium but I had a blood test and my calcium levels were fine…?
Regarding the testing of calcium, there is no way to test it properly because there are two forms; extracellular and intracellular. Blood tests only tell you the extracellular, which has already been pulled out of your body so it doesn’t tell you anything. Those levels will actually tell you that everything is normal. but it’s not. There’s no way to test intracellular calcium so you have to go by your symptoms alone.
Do you think oxalate binds to the calcium in the food that we eat or only to additional calcium, like TUMS? I have a feeling that the oxalate is pulling calcium even when I am swallowing calcium supplement pills. From what I have read, it also pulls magnesium, Zinc, and iron. Vitamins B6 and B1 are also indicated.
Yes. If you drink milk with each meal, or eat foods containing calcium at your meals, the calcium will bind to the oxalate.
Why is getting the right amount of calcium so confusing?
Health professionals make the biggest mistakes when it comes to labels. This is a problem for all concerned and should be corrected. What you want to know is that the milligrams shown on the front of the label indicate how much actual calcium you will get per serving size. You have to read the back of the label, Supplement Facts, to find out what the serving size is, for instance, two capsules is a serving size.
What presents confusion is what is shown under Amount Per Serving (APS). For this example we will use the Puritan’s Pride Calcium 600 mg. In this case, the APS is written as ‘Calcium (as calcium carbonate) 1200 mg’. Calcium is not stable by itself, so it has to be bound to something, in this case the carbonate. When you read ‘as’, this means that less than half of the caplet is calcium, while the balance is carbonate that the calcium binds to. The total 1200 mg represents the amount of ‘product’ (calcium AND carbonate) in two caplets, NOT the amount of calcium! If the APS reads Calcium Carbonate and there are no parentheses, that means that only 40% of the caplet is calcium, the other 60% is carbonate, so again, only a portion of the mg under APS is actual calcium. IF the label under APS shows ‘from’ calcium carbonate then the 1200 mg is total elemental calcium, which means that the front of the bottle would also read 1200 mg.
Calcium comes from many sources; limestone, oyster shell, coral, etc. Calcium from the oyster shell is bound within the matrix of the shell and we, as humans, can’t pull it out of there, which means we don’t absorb it. Coral calcium presents the same matrix problem. You want calcium carbonate from limestone- that’s what our body uses the best. Calcium carbonate is the only natural calcium, and the one best suited for our bodies. All else is man-made.
Is it o.k. to take calcium at night?
If you are using Respen-A™ then calcium should not be taken at night as it can keep the parathyroid from turning on- the parathyroid regulates the serum calcium concentration. Because of this, if you take calcium at night, you can end up with low calcium.
Parathyroid hormone regulates calcium levels in the blood, largely by increasing the levels when they are too low. It does this through its actions on the kidneys, bones and intestine. Parathyroid hormone stimulates the release of calcium from large calcium stores in the bones into the bloodstream.
If you have osteoporosis then taking calcium at night is a good thing as it would shut down the parathyroid thus preventing it from pulling calcium out of the bones.
Can you give me an idea for how to get my son to swallow four teaspoons of powdered calcium?
If you are struggling with supplementing calcium for your child, try this Peanut Butter Ball Recipe. This is a great way to disguise calcium carbonate (4 tsp) and magnesium oxide (1/4 tsp) powders (NOW brand vitamins) . The three main ingredients are a 1:1:2 ratio. If you make one ball servings, 1 Tablespoon each of peanut butter and honey, and 2 Tablespoons of powdered milk, you'll be able to disguise your calcium and magnesium powders within. You might need to reduce the powdered milk, slightly, to keep the ball moist and together. If you have a peanut allergy, try almond or cashew butter. Dairy allergy? Try desiccated coconut instead of powdered milk. REMEMBER to wait one hour, following consumption, before applying the Respen-A™ disc!
DEPRESSION
I have just started the Respen for depression and can't tell any difference. When I started it, I had just pulled out of a depression slump, which typically lasts for a few weeks and then reoccurs about six weeks later. How will I know if this is helping me?
The conscious body takes normalcy for granted. Normal, to the body, is a healthy state. The conscious body is not aware of when you move to a healthy state but is very much aware of symptoms that are not of a healthy state. For example, our hands move a million times a day and we are not conscious of these movements. But if we have a numbness in our hand we are constantly aware of this. You will know that the Respen-A™ is working for you when you don't fall into depression. Either that, or wait till you are in depression to use it and see how quickly it pulls you out of that state.
DETOXIFICATION
I recently found out that my son is high in ammonia. How can I resolve this?
Ammonia is a waste product of MAO-B, which kids with autism are high in. It is also a waste product of MAO-A, but much less. The newest research shows that MAO-A is one of the greatest detoxifiers in the liver (toxins, drugs, metals, chemicals). Respen-A™ increases the activity of MAO-A, or unties its hands, which allows the entire body to function and be healthy again. If you get the MAO-A production healthy again by increasing its activity, then the liver can do its job of detoxification.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Is Huperzine O.K. to use with the Respen-A™ Disc?
Huperzine-a, is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and a NMDA inhibitor. We are not fans of inhibitors as they can have many side effects. They often seem to work in the beginning, then lose their effectiveness. The body will override an inhibitor by simply increasing receptor density, as in the case of NMDA. As for the enzyme inhibition on the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, Parkinsonism symptoms can result from this.
Are these drugs okay to use with the Respen-A™; adderall, leucovorin, Abilify, Prozac, claritin, metoprolol, which is a blood pressure medication, omeprazole, ezetimibe, which is a cholesterol lowering medication?
No problem with any of these.
In my past I was given a drug that was an MAOI, and I had a really bad reaction. Will activating my MAO-A do the same thing?
What we are doing with the Respen-A™ disc is completely opposite of what an MAOI does. MAOIs are MAO inhibitors. They are the opposite of MAO-A or MAO-B. The Respen will untie the hands of MAO-A, figuratively, so that it can do what it is supposed to do in your body.
Is a drug that increases dopamine in the brain a bad thing?
Yes. It also causes addictive behaviors.
Have you heard of Methylene Blue? Apparently people are using it as a 'hack' for numerous things. It is a potent MAO-A inhibitor and in combination with SSRIs it can produce serotonin toxicity in the perioperative period.
Yes, but I did not know that people were using it as a 'hack'. Methylene Blue is a potent MAO-A inhibitor and in combination with SSRIs it can produce serotonin toxicity in the perioperative period. It is extremely dangerous.
My doctor is recommending Gabapentin. Will it inhibit MAO-A?
Gabaergic drugs don’t inhibit MAO-A but they tip the teeter totter to MAO-B, which is what creates the problems/symptoms. It does increase GABA synthesis so can diminish the activity of MAO-A by increasing MAO-B activity. You've got to be very careful in dosing; a little bit is probably o.k., but too much tips the scales and you will have difficulties.
What is wrong with MAOIs?
MAOIs are MAO inhibitors. They are the opposite of MAO-A or MAO-B. It is possible to have a drug reach toxic levels if you are taking supplements that inhibit MAO! It can also raise serotonin levels to the point of serotonin toxicity!
ELAINE’S OTHER DISCS
Can you tell me why the AM4 works for Alzheimer’s?
I am not sure of the mechanism but we have seen benefit in Alzheimer patients.
With the AM4 for dementia, is it every day or one day on two days off?
Still one day on and two days off, unless you see that they don’t do as well the second day off, then go to every other day.
What can you tell me about the AM4?
Little is known about AM4 except that it blocks the inhibitory effects of alanine on MAO-A. If you are low in MAO-A then pyruvate can't go into the Krebs cycle. Pyruvate is converted into alanine and high alanine inhibits MAO-A. Then you are in a downward spiral. Your BH4 is phenylalanine. It's a catch 22: MAO-A is at the root of the issues while BH4 is a branch. MAO-A is very much involved; you end up with high alanine when you are low in MAO-A. It's a big culprit. The AM4 Disc reduces 84% of the negative effects of alanine on MAO-A. BH4 is just a cofactor along the line of how all the other processes work. It still doesn’t get to the root of the issue, which is the MAO-A.
AM4 might stimulate the gene expression of MAO-A because AM4 is used 1 day on 2 days off, which follows the MAO-A half-life: MAO-A lasts 3 days in the body before it's used up and gone (MAO-A gets used up in its reactions).
We've seen that it works well in conjunction with the PST disc. Testing was also conducted with AM4 and Respen-A™, and by itself, to determine what method would provide more gains in freeing people from the trap of autism.
-If you are using the AM4 disc you still need to avoid anything that inhibits MAO-A. The AM4 blocks the inhibitory effects of alanine on MAO-A. Alanine inhibits MAO-A. Many supplements are known to inhibit MAO-A. See the FAQ page for some known MAO-A inhibitors.
How long should I wait after starting PST before introducing AM4?
We have seen most people see some benefit of the PST in the first week. Maybe start the AM4 in the second week. Of course it may not show much benefit until it has been worn 4-5 times.
Do I have to stop MAO-A Inhibitors when using the Il-4 Disc?
Yes. You can’t use the IL-4 disc if you are using something that inhibits MAO-A. The IL-4 boosts production of MAO-A. The Respen activates the MAO-A. Many supplements inhibit MAO-A. IL-4 is responsible for the majority of production of the MAO-A enzyme in the mitochondria, which is needed for the utilization of the neurotransmitters histamine, norepinephrine, serotonin and NMDA. Why increase the production of MAO-A if you are going to then destroy it with supplements?
Can I use IL-4 twice a day
Yes, that is fine, just not longer than 2 hours at a time.
Should the calcitonin disc only be used during the day? Will it interfere with the parathyroid if used at night?
I don’t think it will interfere with the parathyroid but it is made by the thyroid which is more active during the day so best to mimic nature.
I use the T3 disc from you for my thyroid, and it is the first time in 16 years that my levels have been normal! Elaine, am I ever supposed to skip a day once a month of using the T3 like you had suggested with oral thyroid medication?
Only if you feel that you have overwhelmed the receptors.
If I use too much thyroid medication, can it shut down the receptors to where my thyroid is not working?
Yes.
If I am only using the T3 disc, will it change my numbers so they can be normal again?
Yes.
Is it the calcitonin that we are supposed to remove when we start to feel achy?
Yes.
Should calcitonin only be used during the day? Will it interfere with the parathyroid if used at night?
I don’t think it will interfere with the parathyroid but it is made by the thyroid which is more active during the day so best to mimic nature.
What are signs of high alanine? (AM4 helps clear high alanine)
High alanine can have no symptoms and range all the way to symptoms of ASD. It all depends on the level of MAO-A activity a person has. The less MAO-A activity the greater the symptoms.
FOS
Are inulin and FOS basically the same thing?
Yes, however the health benefit is from FOS so you will probably have to take more inulin to equal 3,000 mg of FOS.
What are the benefits of FOS (fructooligosaccharides) in the gut?
FOS, in high enough concentrations, stimulates the production of calbindin D9k and Calbindin D28k. D9k helps with absorption of calcium and other minerals and D28k protects the cells from too much calcium influx into the cells which causes inflammation and rapid cell division such as seen in cancer.
My son has Candida. What can we use to get rid of it?
FOS* is preferred. Fructooligosaccharides create the good bacteria that then is in competition with the yeast, and FOS wins. Everything else does not create the competition and the yeast then becomes resistant to it. Research has shown that FOS will grow non-pathogenic strains, not pathogenic strains. If your son has klebsiella, you'll have to get rid of that first before using FOS. You would know if he has klebsiella due to foul-smelling stools following use of FOS.
* I recommend Source Naturals FOS powder, 1 rounded tsp. dissolved in water- drink all at once, daily.
GENETICS
How Can I tell if my son is o.k. in the MAO-A department? We've done genetic testing but what does it mean if he is an under or over methylator, and how can one allele serve to answer that question?
Whether or not he is under or over methylated is not the issue. His symptoms are, and that’s what you go by. See Respen-A™ FAQ #39 for more details.
If I have high MAOA on my genetic SNPS would it make my MAO-A go faster? And, if that is the case, will taking Respen-A™ make it go faster?
MAO-A decreases as we age. It’s higher when we are young.
HEAVY METALS
What would you say to the idea that getting rid of heavy metals gets rid of autism?
If heavy metals are the only thing inhibiting the MAO-A activity then it could resolve the autism. However, autism is multifactorial, so that is rarely the case.
Should I supplement Copper?
High copper inhibits MAO-A and boosts MAO-B because MAO-B is a copper containing enzyme, and MAO-A is a flavin containing enzyme. High copper can cause frequent urination.
HYPERACTIVITY
My son is still hyper on day 4 of the Respen-A™, and he has started stimming. What should I do?
It sounds like he isn't getting enough gluten in his diet. The initial hyperactivity was a result of the excess serotonin being depleted, but now you have the result of not enough serotonin to release in the gut to turn over the MAO-A, so you are seeing a return of symptoms because of this. Increase the amount of gluten he is getting. He should be eating it throughout the day.
INOSITOL
How do I know if I need to use inositol?
If you are sensitive to gluten, what causes that sensitivity is the release of serotonin in the gut. Respen-A™ lowers the serotonin. Therefore:
- if a person is not on Respen-A™, then don't take inositol or it will stimulate the release of more serotonin.
- a person who is gluten-free by choice, not by sensitivity, would only need inositol if they have symptoms of low serotonin, like depression, etc.
I have low blood sugar levels. Is there anything I can do to fix this problem?
The mitochondria is the heart of everything, the heart of health. For instance, diabetes is simply caused by the mitochondria not functioning correctly. When the mitochondria is not working right, the brain has problems converting glucose to inositol. This results in the brain shutting down insulin production and also even decreasing the insulin receptors on the cells in an attempt to increase the glucose going to the brain in an attempt to convert the glucose into an inositol.
Inositol is the active form of glucose in the brain. This is why the brain does not require insulin in order to utilize glucose, whereas all other cells in the body require insulin in order to carry the glucose into the cell so the cells can utilize it. What stimulates the brain to convert the glucose into inositol is an enzyme called myo-inositol synthase. This enzyme is stimulated by how active the mitochondria is. The faster the mitochondria is working, the faster you convert glucose into inositol. This is why children who are physically active during recess learn better than people who are sedentary.
When you give inositol, most times you can reverse diabetes (except for Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes). Inositol comes in powder form and is easily dissolved in water (drink all at once in a.m.).
IF you have diabetes and are on insulin take 1000 mg of inositol (might increase or decrease based on blood sugar levels) in a.m. Monitor blood sugar; if it gets low don't use insulin medication- you'll be cutting it back. DON'T take inositol at night as you wouldn't want that happening at night (blood sugar lowering without you being able to monitor it). Many people that I have suggested this to have been able to go off insulin completely, or reduce it substantially.
IF you are prediabetic then start with 450 mg of inositol and monitor signs and symptoms to determine dose.
Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar/hypoglycemia (if you have any of these then eat sugar and follow up with a protein or fat...THEN cut the amount of inositol in half next time you take it):
Symptoms of a low blood sugar level
A low blood sugar level can affect everyone differently. You'll learn how it makes you feel, although your symptoms may change over time.
Early signs of a low blood sugar level include:
sweating
feeling tired
dizziness
feeling hungry
tingling lips
feeling shaky or trembling
a fast or pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
becoming easily irritated, tearful, anxious or moody
turning pale
If a low blood sugar level is not treated, you may get other symptoms, such as:
weakness
blurred vision
confusion or difficulty concentrating
unusual behaviour, slurred speech or clumsiness (like being drunk)
feeling sleepy
seizures or fits
collapsing or passing out
A low blood sugar level, or hypo, can also happen while you're sleeping. This may cause you to wake up during the night or cause headaches, tiredness or damp sheets (from sweat) in the morning.
MAGNESIUM
What forms of magnesium are preferred for use with Respen-A™?
If a parent wants to use a different form of magnesium other than magnesium oxide, I would ask, why? Magnesium oxide has the oxide ion, which is needed by MAO-A to make the electron transport chain work. The oxide ion pulls the hydrogen down the electron transport chain to make water for the cells. If you’re worried about becoming dehydrated, removing this oxide ion would be a major concern!
If a parent must use a different form of magnesium, the forms that will cause problems are magnesium glycinate, magnesium taurate, magnesium aspartate and magnesium lysinate because they contain amino acids. Forms of magnesium that contain amino acids are called magnesium chelates, where magnesium is bound to an amino acid to improve absorption.
I just sent a short video to you. My son is clenching his teeth and this just started recently. Is it some kind of seizure?
He may need some more magnesium. Deficient magnesium can cause teeth grinding.
Is magnesium carbonate o.k. to use?
Yes, that is fine.
I am giving my son Mag07 three times a day and he is extremely constipated...?
That product is intended to be used as an oxygen delivery mechanism for colon cleansing, not as a supplement. Mag07 works with the digestive tract, and you need something that breaks down in the stomach, not the intestines. The only purpose of the magnesium in Mag07, which is an oxygenated item, is that the magnesium stabilizes the oxygen. The oxygen binds to the magnesium. That’s its only purpose, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to get oxygen to the digestive tract. You need to use magnesium as a supplement to clear constipation, and we recommend magnesium oxide.
MAO-A
Can lack of exercise inhibit MAO-A?
High levels of alanine, an amino acid, will inhibit MAO-A. We have far too much alanine and glutamine in our bodies, which is the result of eating too many calories and not having the activity to burn them off. The body stores the excess calories as alanine, and alanine inhibits MAO-A! There's no better time than NOW to get moving!
Do you think pain is a result of low MAO-A?
It definitely can be. Remember you need MAO-A to produce H2. H2 stimulates the production of endorphins. This is why MS patients have intractable pain that doesn't respond to pain medications.
If a food or chemical inhibits MAO-B does that mean it will not inhibit MAO-A, or would it be beneficial to MAO-A?
Inhibiting MAO-B doesn’t mean it boosts MAO-A but it helps to bring the MAO-A:MAO-B ratio into better balance.
METHYLATION
WDo you think high Serotonin can cause high libido in a 10 year-old male? I believe it is a methylation issue.
It is not the serotonin but rather the high vasopressin:oxytocin ratio that happens because of the stunted development of the neuro hypophysial system that can happen if Pitocin and epidurals are given during birth.
In case a person is not using Respen-A™, what should we do for an under methylation issue? We think methyl B12 will help.
I don’t know. I don’t think methyl B12 will help because I doubt it is a case of lacking methyl groups.
Does a methyl group cause methylation?
A methyl group does not cause methylation. The normal cellular process to address a methyl group problem is for Acetyl-CoA to fix it. Acetyl-CoA (acetyl coenzyme A) is a molecule that participates in many biochemical reactions in protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Its main function is to deliver the acetyl group to the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) to be oxidized for energy production. Simply stated, Acetyl-CoA is needed to methylate. However, you need MAO-A to make the Acetyl-CoA. If you don't have MAO-A (it is inhibited) then you can't methylate, and you will suffer the consequences. The inexpensive way of supporting that is to eliminate things that inhibit MAO-A. The list of inhibitors is on the website but there are many more that are unknown. But even if those are all taken care of there can still be limited MAO-A, and that is when you need Respen-A™ to activate it.
The symptoms that our good whistleblower was having were the symptoms from high serotonin: when Acetyl-CoA is absent then serotonin stockpiles, which can become toxic and cause serotonin syndrome.
MISCELLANEOUS
Do I still need to use digestive enzymes?
MAO-A fixes the problems that inhibit digestive enzymes. You can still take enzymes if you want to, but you don't need to.
Does Respen-A™ help with schizophrenia?
Not that I have heard.
We did stem cell treatment last month. Will the Respen-A™ affect that?
No. The Respen-A™ is just a frequency and it will not affect the stem cells.
I have trouble converting fat to ATP. Do you have something that will help?
Everything that you eat converts to pyruvate and then normally would get put into the Krebs cycle. If you have an issue with your MAO-A then it does not convert to pyruvate but instead to alanine and stores that way, which is also a problem. Respen-A™ will resolve the conversion problem. It will activate the MAO-A so that your body can utilize it, which means that instead of being stored as alanine, the pyruvate will be put into the Krebs cycle.
Do you have anything for COMT? It's a neurotransmitter like MAO-A.
First, COMT is not a neurotransmitter, but an enzyme, and it is typically not the problem. It is a different mechanism entirely and it usually is working when the MAO-A isn't. It runs counter to MAO-A. That is, it does and it doesn't. Part of COMT goes down a pathway to the norepinephrine molecule. The other part goes down a pathway to the dopamine molecule. COMT methylates the ring on the molecules. That's about as far as I am going to take you with the science as it is kind of like trying to explain trigonometry to a 3 year-old. Could you have a problem with both COMT and MAO-A? Yes, it's possible, but you would be really, really sick!
I have high cortisol and OCD. Could Respen-A™ help me?
Anything, any stress on the body, good or bad, inhibits MAO-A. MAO-A is also involved in stimulating and regulating the thyroid. The thyroid and adrenal glands work as partners, so when the thyroid is not functioning as it should, it causes the adrenals to work overtime, and that causes you to have high cortisol. That puts you into a catch 22, because chronic high cortisol inhibits MAO-A, AND boosts MAO-B, which then causes the OCD- it makes you very addictive, impulsive and obsessive compulsive.
You are likely estrogen dominant, which high cortisol causes, and this inhibits MAO-A, which then makes you have mood swings typical of a bi-polar person. Try the Respen-A™, but use no other supplements- many are known to negate MAO-A, and most are not tested against MAO-A- and see what improves. The people who do best with Respen-A™ don't take anything but the calcium/magnesium and, with certain situations, inositol and 5-HTP.
I literally crave chewing ice. Does this mean anything?
I have heard that is a sign of protein deficiency.
Do you think that eating brain (organ meat from cow or lamb) is a good idea? I’ve read that it will help with autism. Apparently it is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Brain also contains some phosphatidylcholine and Phosphatidylserine. It is also rich in antioxidants such as carnosine, carotenoids and tocopherols, and rich in cholesterol. Please advise.
For a person with autism, I would not recommend it due to the high amounts of fatty acids and antioxidants as they have phenol issues, and high EFA results in lipid peroxidation that inhibits MAO-A.
MITOCHONDRIA
Is low MAO-A related to the mitochondria?
A decrease in the MAO-A activity can decrease the mitochondrial complex II activity (reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH)) as it is dependent on the MAO-A activity (Heron et al, 2001). Inhibition of mitochondrial complex II results in an accumulation of dopamine’s metabolite HVA (Cakala et al, 2006). HVA is elevated in ASD patients (Gillberg & Svennerholm, 1987).
OXALATES
Do you think oxalate binds to the calcium in the food that we eat or only to additional calcium like TUMS? I have a feeling that the oxalate is pulling calcium even when I am swallowing calcium supplement pills. From what I have read, it also pulls magnesium, Zinc, and iron. Vitamins B6 and B2 are also indicated.
Yes, if you drink milk with each meal or eat foods containing calcium at your meals, the calcium will bind to the oxalate. If you struggle with too many oxalates, then chew 1 tablet of TUMS with each meal as the calcium will bind to the oxalates in the food and prevent it from being absorbed.
To bind the oxalates, the calcium needs to be chewed (TUMS, Puritan's Pride Calcium Wafers). You can't just swallow calcium pills as the binders of those tablets don't get broken down till they are low in the intestines. You have to chew it (which is why TUMS is a perfect option), or take a powder.
The calcium taken with meals won't be absorbed as it is bound to the oxalates and will be excreted in the feces, so don't calculate this amount into your daily 2,000 mg of calcium needed when using Respen-A™!
My son uses TUMS as oral calcium for his Respen-A™. Will the calcium bind to oxalates regardless of whether or not he has oxalate sensitivity?
Yes. Oxalates bind to the calcium, and other minerals (zinc, B2, B6, magnesium, iron) that we get from food or that we take as supplements. For this reason you should always take your calcium and magnesium with non-oxalate foods, like meats and dairy.
You’ve suggested taking TUMS with a meal to bind oxalates. Won't TUMS lower stomach acid and interfere with protein digestion?
Not if you take it with meals. Without food it acts like an antacid, but with food it just acts like calcium. Incidentally, be careful of celery juice - it is high in oxalates which many here cannot eliminate properly due to phenols. The oxalates build up in the body, lodge in tissues and cause painful conditions such as interstitial cystitis. Other veggies and foods are also high in oxalates as well as phenols. If you are on the PST disc then eating foods with phenols shouldn't be a problem.
My child has issues with oxalates and you've suggested his taking TUMS when he eats to bind the oxalates in the food. Will the calcium carbonate affect the ph balance in his stomach?
Not really. It is not nearly enough to affect the ph. The majority of oxalates come from foods. The ph does not come from the foods you eat. Perfect proof of that is the very tight range of your ph balance, such as 7.35-7.45. When you eat, you release hydrochloric acid, which drops the pH in the stomach to about a 1 or a 2, and it would take far more carbonate than you get in a TUMS tablet to affect that. You can't just swallow calcium pills as the binders as those tablets don't get broken down till they are low in the intestines. You have to chew it (which is why TUMS is a perfect option), or take a powder so it can bind to the oxalates in the food. A weak acid like carbonic acid is very good for neutralizing the ph. It's whether or not it is a hydrogen donor or a hydrogen acceptor. Carbonate is not a good hydrogen acceptor. Carbonic acid is a very good hydrogen acceptor, and yet it's a weak acid.
PHENOLS
Do you think rosacea could be a symptom of phenols? I checked the list of symptoms, which includes red face/ears, so I think it’s possible especially since I did not benefit from other treatments for rosacea.
It's definitely worth testing. PLEASE let us know if you see success so that we can spread the word!
PST DISC
Calcium-d-glucarate is a supplement that enhances a process called glucuronidation within the liver. Glucuronidation is the process by which phenols are “neutralized” and prepared for excretion from the body. I was thinking that this might be a way that I can enhance my body’s metabolism of salicylates, so that I might be able to eat more of them with lessened reactions. What do you think?
Long before I knew about the PST, I had many of our Respen-A™ users test calcium-d-glucarate. Some didn’t notice a difference. Others felt that it lessened diarrhea symptoms. The PST takes care of salicylates, and many of our kids with autism do better on it than the Respen-A™.
PYROLURIA
I'm planning on using the arachidonic acid from X-Factor for my son's pyroluria. How many capsules a day should we dose? Is there anything I should be aware of?
One (1) capsule a day should be adequate. You'll want to balance that with saturated fat.
RESPEN-A™
Does the Respen-A™ cause weight gain?
No. Any gain in weight would be a result of the gut being able to function as normal once again, which includes proper absorption of nutrients, and the food people choose to eat.
SUPPLEMENTS
I saw that taking flaxseed oil is not okay because it inhibits MAO-A. Is it okay to take flaxseed? Like a TBSP or 2 in a smoothie?
Flaxseed is OK. It would take a lot of that for you to get enough to be detrimental due to the oils in it.
Why do you suggest taking no more than 1.5 mg of melatonin at bedtime?
Melatonin is supposed to have highs and lows throughout the night. The swing from high to low initiates REM sleep. If the dose is too high or it is time release there is a gradual decrease in the melatonin level and it won’t swing down to a low enough level to stimulate REM sleep.
5-HTP is the precursor to serotonin. Serotonin production is stimulated by sunlight. When the sunlight turns down or any light turns down, the pineal gland converts the serotonin to melatonin. This is why a person usually sleeps well after being in the sun all day. This is also why watching TV in bed or doing electronics at night can interfere with your sleep because the light off the screen interferes with the pineal gland converting serotonin to melatonin.
We often hear from parents that are giving their children as much as 20 mg of melatonin at bedtime. Elaine recommends no more than 1.5 mg of melatonin and this is why: "Melatonin is supposed to have highs and lows throughout the night. The swing from high to low initiates REM sleep. If the dose is too high or it is a time release capsule, there is a gradual decrease in the melatonin level. In the case of too high of an initial dose at night, it won’t swing down to a low enough level to stimulate REM sleep".
What do you think of NAD?
If you have a problem with MAO-A activity it won’t be of much benefit because you will have deficient activity of NADH dehydrogenase, so you won’t be able to release the hydrogen from the NAD to the electron transport chain.
Can I use a ubiquinol spray to support the mitochondria?
Ubiquinol naturally occurs in the body at the cellular level, but it is no good unless you make adequate ATP. Ubiquinol is like the janitor in the cell. It binds to flawed proteins to recycle them. The body makes flawed proteins. That’s just the way it is, kind of like an assembly line gone wrong. These flawed proteins then litter the cell, like trash. To get the trash recycled, you need ATP. You need MAO-A to make ATP. If you don’t have your MAO-A working in the body, then you are compounding the problem. Excess ‘trash’ in the cells causes them to swell. Supplementing with ubiquinol is worthless and expensive. Your body already makes it, and as long as you have the MAO-A activated, then it can do its job. Activating MAO-A also allows the mitochondria to function properly.
How much iodine should I be taking each day for my thyroid?
I would not take any, just use iodized salt.
Is gamma amino butyric acid (as Pharma GABA) OK? I’m guessing no. What about phosphatidyl serine at 50 mg? This is a supplement and has many things and these are the two that I question. There is one amino acid, L-theanine at 100 mg. It’s not on the list but I know that you have mentioned amino acids are a problem.
GABA boosts MAO-B activity so it should be avoided. Phosphatidyl serine and L-theanine are okay but again it would be best to avoid all supplements.
What is the problem with taking amino acids?
The problem is that when you take amino acids independently, they compete against each other. Many of them feed the MAO-B line. MAO-B is the counterbalance to MAO-A, and can decrease the activity of MAO-A. This action counteracts the Respen-A™ disc's action of trying to boost MAO-A.
Just eat meat. Otherwise you can do branched amino acids where everything is pretty equal, but many of them* are already known to work on the MAO-B line which will cause you big problems such as anxiety, depression, autistic symptoms, etc. Bring MAO-B back into balance with MAO-A and that chaos disappears…and so much more with it.
*Glutamine and alanine are the most abundant amino acids generally in the body, and both are associated with the MAO-B pathway. Glutamine and GABA may possibly increase MAO-B activity, therefore decreasing MAO-A activity. Tyrosine shouldn’t be supplemented because it feeds the dopamine, which is too high in autism.
VITAMINS
Is D2 the active form of D3?
D2 is the inactive form that gets converted by 1 alpha hydroxylase into the active D3. But it too should not be too high as it will result in too much D3 and can cause high calcium in the blood as it pulls it from the bones.
I have extremely low vitamin D and will need to supplement. I worry about that inhibiting my already low MAO-A. How much D2 is too high?
I personally would not use more than 400 iu a day for a total of 3 days a week.
What causes us to lose zinc?
Pyroluria. I think a copper imbalance would as well.
My B-12 was tested and is very low at 35 out of 1200. The only options are either getting the injectable, or taking a dissolvable 5 mg one that is oral. What do you recommend?
We cannot make Vitamin B-12. In our diet we get it from animal products such as meat. Our body makes intrinsic factor in the intestine which is needed to absorb vitamin B-12 from the gut. So either you aren’t eating enough animal source of B-12 or you aren’t making enough intrinsic factor. If the latter is the case then you will need weekly injections or the daily sublingual tablet of B-12. Either is fine, but the latter is far less expensive.
Are B vitamins o.k. to give to my child?
B vitamins are o.k. and won't inhibit Respen-A™ but B vitamins need to be in balance. Too much of one will cause an imbalance of the others in the body, shutting systems down, which ultimately causes more symptoms.
If you or your child is sensitive to phenols, then they should not take P-5-P as it inhibits the enzyme, phenol-sulfur transferase, which is needed to metabolize phenols. High phenols inhibit MAO-A. IF YOUR CHILD HAS AN ISSUE WITH PHENOLS, ONLY USE THE ZINC. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE USING PST you CAN use p-5-p because the PST is a frequency, not the enzyme itself.
5-HTP
Can you explain 5-HTP and its importance in layman's terms?
5-HTP is the precursor to serotonin. Serotonin production is stimulated by sunlight. When the sunlight turns down or any light turns down, the pineal gland converts the serotonin to melatonin. This is why a person usually sleeps well after being in the sun all day. This is also why watching TV in bed or doing electronics at night can interfere with your sleep because the light off the screen interferes with the pineal gland converting serotonin to melatonin.
