Study Links Autism to High Fructose Corn Syrup

Autism Key Bulletin Board ^ | Posted on April 14, 2012 | Gary Porter

[djf]

A new study released this past week has once again linked the consumption of processed foods to health complications, giving food safety advocates even more cause for concern. The April 10th publication of the Clinical Epigenetics Journal reported a link between high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and autism in the United States. According to the study, the rise in autism rates "is not related to mercury exposure from fish, coal-fired power plants, thimerosal, or dental amalgam but instead to the consumption of HFCS.”

The study, led by former FDA toxicologist and whistleblower Renee Dufault, found that a deficiency of zinc, triggered by the consumption of HFCS and other processed foods, interferes with the body’s ability to eliminate toxins such as mercury and pesticides.

High fructose corn syrup has long been suspected of having an adverse impact on health and has been purportedly linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and liver disease. The fructose-laden ingredient has even been reported to facilitate the growth of cancer cells.

Dufault made news in 2009 with another study (which was referenced in these new findings), also linking high fructose corn syrup to mercury. Many HFCS proponents and some in the autism community will immediately (and predictively) discount these new findings, but regardless, they still warrant further research.

With autism rates now at a mind-blowing 1 in 88, there are many who are desperately looking for a definitive cause and a silver bullet theory. Whether or not there is something to these new findings remains to be seen, but we must not give up on our quest for the truth.

[varyouga]

The simplest sub-atomic property to study is quantum vibration between bonds but there are far more that we can't detect experimentally nor test for in biological experiments.

Again, we are only beginning to understand and there will be properties discovered that we can't even imagine.

http://www.newscientist.com/mobile/article/dn20130-fly-sniffs-molecules-quantum-vibrations.html

[Magic Fingers]

My response was to the tone of your post, which was that of a pompous ass.

[Tenacious 1]

An autism diagnosis means money, which is why the definition of autism has been broadly expanded in recent years.

I admit to not knowing enough about Autism and it's seemingly rapid expansion. But I have long suspected that part of the statistical issue is that more kids that were formally diagnosed otherwise are now being diagnosed as Autistic. Either science and technology have allowed cases to be be better diagnosed that weren't previously, or more diagnoses are defaulting to Autism when other learning, emotional or mental dissabilities don't fall into a clear classification.

It's only my opinion and doesn't have any scientificly researched position. I know several people with autistic children that are always eager to find a cause. My heart aches for them and I keep them in my prayers.

[Tenacious 1]

Amish have an autism rate of 1 per 15,000.

I suspect that number is deceiving as many Amish have their own doctors that would likely not report such statistics. couple that with families that would not seek medical attention for autistic kids.... That's a hard argument to include to make this case in my opinion.

[Chickensoup]

I suspect that number is deceiving as many Amish have their own doctors that would likely not report such statistics. couple that with families that would not seek medical attention for autistic kids.... That’s a hard argument to include to make this case in my opinion.

________________

Amish do not have their own doctors. Amish dont go beyone 6th grade.

[Nifster]

I actually feel some what sorry for these people. They obviously have a child that doesn’t meet their expectations or hopes or dreams (or whatever) and they are desperately seeking some one or some thing to blame. I guess they idea that we all supposedly learned in kindergarten...that you get what you get...hasn’t hit home for them.

Mores the shame because they do more damage than good

[Persevero]

“The quoted low autism rate in the Amish is nonsense and has been refuted multiple times by pediatricians who actually treat the Amish.”

Fair enough, I accepted the poster’s presupposition with some opinion. His presupposition may indeed be wrong. I didn’t check it.

[Tenacious 1]

Amish do not have their own doctors. Amish dont go beyone 6th grade.

I didn't say they were registered with the AMA. :o) I use the term "doctor" loosely. I met a carpenter that was also a "vet" and saw "patients" in the Amish community. I got the impression, he recommended weather some of his community members should see a doctor. Headaches, sore throats, a cough, etc.

I'm no expert. I could be wrong.

[FredZarguna]

I am a nuke engineer and did research for many years.

I don't believe you.

Admittedly, education in STEM isn't what it used to be, but not ONE of the Engineers I ever taught would have come up with such a ridiculous statement. If you know anything about quantum mechanics (and based on your comments, you don't) you know that quantum mechanical particles are indistinguishable. That requirement applies to molecules. Two molecules that are have the same composition and the same structure are completely interchangeable: their vibrational, translational, rotational, intrinsic spin, and internal states are 100% identical.

There isn't any "new" science that's going to be discovered that's going to make it otherwise. The quantum statistical identity of quantum particles is so thoroughly established by so many experimental results (superfluid helium, properties of metals, quantum teleportation, the Exclusion Principle, ... I can go on for hours) that there's more likelihood that the Earth is flat than there is that what you're saying is true.

[Katya]

I’m not sure I buy this... however, I would go further and say that people who consume diets that are laden with high fructose corn syrup... are probably NOT people who read labels. They probably consume a lot of food I would deem as “empty calories.”
The problem is.. there is no causation that can ever be proven, because some people are able to consume all sorts of terrible food, while others have constitutions that will be weakened and subject to disease.

[FredZarguna]

The tone of my post is that I’m completely sick of FReepers posting absolute BS on scientific (or in this case pseudo-scientific) threads, making us look like total dumbasses in front of the whole world.

[kevkrom]

Many parents of autistic children have said that their child’s behavior changed soon after, or even the very week, of receiving a vaccine.

The vaccines are given at approximately the same age as when autism starts presenting itself in a noticeable fashion due to the physical and mental development of the child.

Correlation does not imply causality.

Note that mercury hasn't been used in vaccines for a decade, and yet there's no sign of autism rates dropping, but rather, they continue to increase. Does that correlation mean that vaccines with mercury can prevent autism? Of course not.

[Magic Fingers]

“The tone of my post is that I’m completely sick of FReepers posting absolute BS on scientific (or in this case pseudo-scientific) threads, making us look like total dumbasses in front of the whole world.”

I see it too and I understand, but your approach is highly unlikely to change anyone’s behavior.

[varyouga]

I admit that my weakness is words. I am a “natural” engineer and it is difficult to find the right words to express most of what I perceive to others. I never studied to earn my degrees and had perfect scores in every physics and engineering course. I never studied or prepared for any license or certification. I just “knew”. On the other hand, I barely passed the most basic writing courses even while working like a dog. I have no reason to lie to you. I just wish to open your mind beyond supposedly established science.

We know close to nothing about the true nature of the universe beyond the illusion of reality that our minds can perceive. Nothing is truly set or the way it seems. Even the very concept of “I”, “you”, “our minds” and “the Earth” is an illusion. Everything is everything. Everything is important. Everything is not what it seems to us at all. This is on a level that even the most gifted among us can only see a brief glimpse of at the most unexpected moments.

It is all coming together and in the next generation or so will have discoveries beyond all imagination.

[Ellendra]

The vaccines are given at approximately the same age as when autism starts presenting itself in a noticeable fashion due to the physical and mental development of the child.

I was trying to figure out the best way to phrase that, given some of the venom being spewed here.

Most ancient cultures have myths about children being stolen and replaced by lookalikes. In every one of those myths that I've seen, much of the behavior of the "changeling" matched the symptoms of autism.

Just something to think about.

[exDemMom]

Is there any simple procedure to make table sugar crystals from HFCS? I would presume if they were both comprised of glucose and fructose molecules in solution, and more importantly, if both behaved similarly, then HFCS in solution should be as easy to convert to sucrose crystals as table sugar in solution is.

No. Table sugar consists of sucrose, which is made of a fructose and a glucose molecule covalently bonded (that is, they are physically connected). Your body separates the two sugars, then converts the fructose into glucose (or whatever sugars the body needs). The various glucose/fructose mixtures, since the glucose and fructose exist as separate molecules, are not easily converted into sucrose. They can be, through a chemical reaction, but you're unlikely to be able to do that in your kitchen.

[newnhdad]

I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a certain dietary link but more studying is required. I recall a study that linked ADHD and Adult ADD to diet and I personally benefited from eliminating as much as I can, things like added sugars and HFCS. I found I was better able to focus and concentrate and complete tasks after I adjusted my diet to more of a paleo.

From what I saw in literature regarding autism spectrum disorder, I think it’s too brad based and maybe some of those that they felt were slightly autistic might just be exhibiting an allergy or an intolerance towards certain foods.

[exDemMom]

I read about that, but just because a study is discredited does not disprove the connection. Many parents of autistic children have said that their child’s behavior changed soon after, or even the very week, of receiving a vaccine. The claims have been denied by those in power and by the pharmaceutical industry, the people who have the most to lose if the connection were proven.

I have read Wakefield's study. It was extremely poor science, and should never have been published. The peer review process is supposed to stop junk science from being published, but did not work on this one.

If you really want, I can go through, point by point, exactly how Wakefield's "study" linking vaccines and autism lacked any scientific merit. The original article has been retracted, meaning that the journal that published it has found it to be scientifically unsupported.

More studies should be done — unbiased ones. But who would do them? Everyone has a stake in the outcome.

Many people have wasted their time, as well as hundreds of thousands (or maybe millions) of dollars trying to repeat Wakefield's "study". That's money that could have been better used to try to track down what exactly causes autism or to develop treatments for autism. I wish Wakefield would be held responsible for reimbursing that money to the various funding agencies.

[exDemMom]

I know a family to which that happened. Their daughter is severely autistic, but she had been normal for almost two years or so. But now the only thing that child will willingly eat is soda pop and hot dogs. And that's what they give her because otherwise she shrieks like a banshee. Still in a diaper at age 10.

Correlation is not causation. Autism is not apparent in infants. Symptoms may start appearing between 12 and 18 months, and the average age of diagnosis is at 3 years. The vaccine schedule calls for vaccines at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 15, and 18 mos, at 2-3 years and at 4-6 years. Given that schedule, it would be unusual if autism symptoms did NOT first appear within a month or so of a vaccination.

[exDemMom]

Highly concentrated sugar actually. The issue is not so much sugar which is not problematic consumed in modest amounts, but the very high concentration of sugar introduced when consuming HFCS products.

The problems associated with eating HFCS are exactly the same as the problems associated with eating any other kind of sugar. If you eat it in high quantity, you will gain weight.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that HFCS is sweeter than regular table sugar, meaning that the same amount of sweetness can be achieved using less of the actual sugar.