Having liver function tests done on our children is something that I consider to be very important because most people with ASD’s have compromised liver function. When something, anything, is going awry in the liver, other systems are affected and the liver is left far more vulnerable to toxicity by many substances; including meds….prescription and OTC. Before our appointment with his new doctor for absorption testing, I took my son to a traditional GP for liver function tests and found an enzyme that his liver is supposed to produce to regulate bilirubin levels was very low. Sometimes jaundice isn’t a symptom in compromised liver function, but we would find his liver had other problems too.

Two of the vast jobs of Metallothionein (MT) Proteins are liver cell development and enzyme production. The liver filters toxins from the blood and metabolizes old red blood cells, converts carbohydrates, as well as manufactures, stores and releases glucose as needed. In all, the liver performs some 500 function’s, it is a very valuable and hard-working organ. Jaundice occurs when the bilirubin count is too high, and when dramatically elevated, a condition called Kernicterus occurs which can cause brain damage (2). Most problems with the liver are very serious and can cause severe, permanent damage if not addressed; so my recommendation is for all people with ASD’s to get a comprehensive liver function test.

All of these issues got worse and worse until at age 20, living on his own, he found himself locked in a mental health ward on a court ordered commitment. His behaviors were exactly like a severe and persistent mental illness…..two of them actually. He was diagnosed with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. But in my heart I knew it wasn’t true. I had spent years studying and researching this and had finally found a doctor who would listen to me and prove that there was something internal causing all of these problems. So I got a lawyer, got my son out of that hospital and started getting the absorption testing he needed to find what was going on inside of him.(1) That is when I discovered all of the studies and research I had read were correct, there are serious hidden health issues in ASD’s that directly choreograph our children’s behaviors and exacerbate the issues in Autism.

The liver is directly involved in glucose metabolism also. We discovered my son’s symptoms of metal illness were from a malfunctioning glucose metabolism system that created a rollercoaster of reactive hypoglycemia. Thirty-six hours after having ALL sugars and high glycemic foods taken out of his diet he no longer had hypoglycemia and no longer displayed disordered thinking, no sleep disturbances, no mania or hyperactivity, no paranoia, no anger or rage, no repeating himself, his severe obsessions that controlled his life became normal interests, no extreme mood swings and he became a pleasure to be around. And for the first time in months, my husband and I were able to sleep a full 8 hours, rather than the usual two!

There are only two things which cause hypoglycemia; (3, 4)
1. Diabetic meds and/or insulin that are not properly regulated.
2. Sugars and other high glycemic foods in people with a glucose metabolism malfunction or other metabolic disorder, and improper enzyme production to process foods (this is called reactive hypoglycemia). *

1. First, a sugar or high glycemic food is consumed.
2. Then the pancreas gets the signal that high amounts of sugars have entered the system and over-responds by dumping too much insulin.
3. This is when blood sugars plummet and hypoglycemia occurs.
4. The adrenals then emit cortisol and adrenalin/ephedrine to stimulate more glucose release from the liver (the fight or flight response).
5. But the liver is not functioning properly and does not respond.
6. The body is signaling that it needs more glucose and the person is in a “starving” mode, reaching for sugars and high glycemic foods to quickly raise blood sugars.
7. The pancreas again gets the signal that high amounts of sugar have entered the system and again over responds by dumping too much insulin.
8. Blood sugars once more plummet and hypoglycemia occurs again.
9. The adrenals release more cortisol and adrenalin/ephedrine in the “fight or flight” response.
10. The compromised liver does not respond to the signal from the adrenals to release more glucose…..and so on. (5)