ADD and Autism

• Between 3% and 7% of American school aged children are affected by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 1 in 91 is diagnosed with autism. There are similar trends in Australia with an estimated 1 in 160 children being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• During the first 2-3 years of life, many areas of a child’s physiology are still developing, including the blood brain barrier (BBB), liver detoxification pathways, the enteric nervous system and immune system. Until fully developed, these tissues are highly vulnerable to neurotoxins, heavy metals, oxidative damage and inflammatory cytokines.
• Between 2002 and 2009, the number of stimulant medications dispensed in Australia increased by 87%, and males were prescribed stimulants four times more frequently than females.
• As 70% of the body’s serotonin is found in the gastrointestinal tract, changes in digestive function or microbiota can influence a child’s central nervous system, mood and behaviour.
Oxidative damage can alter the mineral and vitamin