Bethanechol, mercury and gastric acid
- Subject: Bethanechol, mercury and gastric acid
- Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 19:32:56 +0100
- Yahoo! Message Number: 258
- Onibasu Link: http://onibasu.com/archives/am/258.html
Dear all,
I have been trying to understand some of the mechanisms behind bethanechol and mercury.
Consider the following basic "facts"
1. Several children dxed with ASD seem to benefit from secretin infusions
(understatement).
2. Normally, secretin is released when gastric acid reaches a certain
acidity (low pH level).
3. One of the reasons some autistic children benefit from secretin might
actually be that their level of acidity never or too rarely reaches the
proper pH level.
4. One of the effects of bethanechol is to stimulate gastric acid output
5. Bethanechol might therefore be inducive in releasing secretin "the normal
way" IF the blockage is caused by low gastric acid output.
6. Low gastric acid is underdiagnosed
7. Before one starts any protocol one should check everything relevant that
can be checked.
8. Low gastric acid output can be tested - it's not cheap but not
particularly disruptive.
9. Gastric acid is crucial in many ways. All eight of the minerals listed
below are best absorbed when they are in their ionic form. The important
point is that gastric atrophy or conditions such as achlorhydria (lack of
stomach acid) or hypochlorhydria (inadequate stomach acid) can severly
impair the body's absorption of these important minerals. Achlorhydria has
been found in children as young as five or six years of age.
Hypochlorhydria, however, is more commonly seen after age 35. It is
estimated that between 15 and 35 percent of adults age 60 have some degree
of gastric atrophy, including hypochlorhydria. (No systematic test has been
conducted on children diagnosed with autism disorder - I believe it might be
useful)
The following are the acid-dependent minerals that require adequate stomach
acid to enhance intraluminal absorption in the small intestine: Chromium
(Cr) Copper (Cu) Iron (Fe) Magnesium (Mg) Manganese (Mn) Molybdenum (Mo)
Selenium (Se) Zinc (Zn)
If I have to point out one specific mineral I'd say that Zinc deficiency in
itself can explain VERY MUCH, as Allison has shown us.
10. Finding a source of minerals in ionic form would then clearly be of
benefit to individuals with some kind of low gastric acid output. But of
course adjusting the basic problem is top priority.
11. Consequences of low gastric acid might be incomplete protein digestion,
lack of secretin release from the duodenum, which, in turn inhibits pancreas
production of lipase, proteinase and amylase. If acid is deficient, this
whole response is muted, and digestion not only of protein, but also of fat
and carbohydrate is dysfunctional. Undigested food then causes an overgrowth
of unfriendly bacteria in the lower small intestine and in the colon. The
toxins produced by these bacteria are absorbed, and the liver works overtime
trying to straighten the situation out. The final result is poor digestion
but above all inadequate absorption of nutrients. There is also a toxic
condition, dysbiosis incomplete caused by overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria,
called ". Many different symptoms can result from this toxicity in itself:
headaches, muscle aches and pain, insomnia, fatigue, hypertension, gas,
personality changes and irritation.
12. A big appetite can be related to low gastric acid output simply because
the child is not getting full nutritional value from the food. The body
tries to solve this by craving more food. "I am hungry all the time" should
ring a bell.
13. There are many agents affecting gastric acid output among them of course
histamine, whose receptors are blocked or proton pumps are inhibited by
drugs like Prilosec. But instead of histamine, bethanechol is a MUSCARINIC
agonist. Therefore it might be particularly useful for children with autism
who have tested positive for mercury allergy, sensitivity or poisoning,
since mercury has been conclusively shown to inhibit precisely the
M1-receptors.
For myself I believe that Megson's findings bears a close relation to the
issue of mercury. I also think that some parts of the protocol may still be
a bit unfinished - specifically the cod liver oil part. But I still think
her theory merits a serious evaluation.
But above all I firmly believe that everyone should check (their child's)
level of gastric acid - after all wouldn't you agree that this might be a
clue, whether it is high or low?
regards to all
Maria Carlshamre
(the above can of course be substantiated with abstracts/papers - and it
forms part of something I am about to finish - any comments are more than welcome)
Onibasu Link: http://onibasu.com/archives/am/258.html