A Gut Feeling About Enzymes...: Autism One Conference Chicago, Il May 2008

A GUT FEELING ABOUT ENZYMES...

AUTISM ONE CONFERENCE CHICAGO, IL MAY 2008 Devin B. Houston, Ph.D. President Houston Nutraceuticals, Inc

Devin Houston: BA, BS, PhD

•PhD Biochemist - enzyme research since 1981 •NIH-funded researcher at UVa and SLU med schools

•Director of Research for enzyme manufacturer •Enzyme product formulator and inventor •Started own company in 2001

Why we need “digestion”...

Autism can disrupt digestion... •Gut inflammation (injury) from mercury, yeast, toxins, etc.

•Malabsorption syndromes •Developmental delay •Food allergies, other immune system problems

Some foods are not well-tolerated in autism... •Wheat (gluten) •Dairy (casein) •Soy protein (soymorphin) •Certain carbohydrates •Polyphenolic compounds, salicylates, oxalates •Others

Restoring gut health is important... •Restore “good” flora of GI tract (pre- and probiotics)

•Reduce inflammation (“leaky gut”) caused by foods

•Eliminate potential future allergens

Food restriction can be helpful... •Gluten-free casein-Free diet •Specific carbohydrate diet •Low oxalate diet •Body ecology diet

...but diets may not be practical or possible. •Nutritional insufficiency? •Family lifestyles •Cost and/or availability

Enzymes may be an alternative to diets... •Achieves same goal as diet: reduction of food offender •Used as alternative to or with diets •Targets only the offending food component: peptide, carb, etc.

•Faster results observed •Less costly, more convenient

Observed effects of enzymes: •Speech may start or improve •Better focus, eye contact and attention •Less stimming •Improvements often noted by “blinded” third-parties •Bowel movements improve •More interest in trying other foods; increased weight gain

•Positive benefits noted even in those already on diet

What are enzymes? Active Site

Enzymes keep Amino acids working as long as substrate is available and conditions are favorable for enzyme function.

Protease Enzyme

Protein Substrate

How do plant-based enzymes help? •Break down foods more thoroughly •Work in stomach before food moves into intestine •Prevent formation of offending peptides •Body gains more nutrition from food •Better gut function, complements pancreatic function •Some enzymes are anti-inflammatory

Are enzymes safe? •Plant-based enzymes used for centuries •No record of any toxicity observed in animals or humans •FDA considers these enzymes as food additives •Safest supplements on the market

Which enzyme(s) do I need? Identify Problem Behavioral

Protein?

Carbs?

High Lactase Protease Amylase PeptidaseGlucoamylase

GI related

Phenols?

Loose stools?

Constipation?

Xylanase

Lactase Amylase Glucoamylase Galactosidase

Xylanase Glucanase Cellulase?

Specific enzymes for specific problems... •DPP IV peptidase for exorphin peptides •Certain carbohydrases for firming stool •Other carbohydrases for softening stool •Some enzymes address phenols (natural food colorings, flavors, some artificial compounds)

•May help anti-fungal compounds work better

Exorphin peptides... •Derived from food protein: casein, gluten, soy, blood •Result from normal digestive process

•Are opiates: interact with opiate receptors, induce analgesia, etc

•May act differently in those with ASD compared to “normal”

Exorphin peptides... •Reduction often produces observable positive effects in behavior

•May be reduced through elimination diet, OR... •May be prevented by appropriate enzyme use

Digestive formation of casomorphin Bovine Casein

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x -tyr-pro-phe-pro-glu- x-x-x-x-x-x-xx pro-ile-

(1) Pepsin

(2) Elastase

-tyr-pro-phe-pro-glupro-ileCasomorphin

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) •Only known enzyme to degrade casomorphin •Found in the cells lining the interior GI tract •DPP IV found in fungal enzyme blends (Houston, 1999) •Very specific, but slow, enzyme •

DPP IV effect on casomorphin -glu-pro-ile tyr-pro -phe-pro

DPP IV

Casein amino acid sequence affected by DPP IV Bovine Casein

x-x-x-x- tyrpro-

phepro-

glu- il-x-x-x-x pro- e

(1) Pepsin DPP IV In Stomach

No casomorphin formed!

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) •Only known enzyme to degrade casomorphin •Found in the cells lining the interior GI tract •DPP IV found in fungal enzyme blends (Houston, 1999) •Very specific, but slow, enzyme

Blocked peptide formation by multiple proteases.. Bovine Casein

x-x-x-x-tyr-prophe-

pro- -x-x-x-x ile

proglu-

Protease 4.5Protease 6.0

(1) Pepsin

(2) Elastase

X tyr-pro-phe-pro-glu-pro-ile X Casomorphin

Enzyme dosing: •Experimentation encouraged, no toxicity, safe dosing •Try taking enzymes at beginning of meal •Base dosing on size of meal, not body weight or age •May be taken with most medications or other supplements •Effective with first dose for digestive results

Reasons to try enzymes... •Results often seen faster than with diets •Inexpensive •No special medical attention or testing required •May be a better fit to family’s lifestyle

Contact information -

Devin Houston, PhD O:

866-757-8627

E: [email protected] Web: www.houstonni.com