Arginine and Alanine are types of amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks for all sorts of materials in the human body, including protein and muscle. Research suggests that arginine is an important factor in the treatment of ASD (autism spectrum disorder) symptoms. As of right now, there is not a standard chemical test performed to diagnose ASDs. However, as research on the connection between arginine and autism progresses, a diagnostic test may develop in the near future. Autism may have a biochemical origin.
Scientific studies have shown that many adult males diagnosed with autism have arginine levels that are higher than typically developing control subjects. The study concluded: “The present study identified deviated plasma metabolite levels associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in individuals with ASD.” Arginine can serve as a biomarker (a quantifiable substance that indicates the presence of diseases, disorders, or other biological maladies) for autism. This new research is interesting since it suggests that autism has an underlying chemical component. Bodily chemical imbalances can be treated through physical steps. This is sometimes as easy as adding a daily supplement to one’s diet or removing a toxin from the environment.
Alanine has also been found to be an abnormal biomarker in individuals with Autism. To read more about alanine and autism click the link below:
Dr. Richard Kelley’s ASD/MITO paper
What can you do? Talk to your doctor about additional blood tests that may reveal more about your child’s condition. To help with this process, our Chief Patient Advocacy Officer Kristi Wees created an eBook called “Top 10 Lab Tests For Your Child.” In this book, Kristi simplifies the seemingly complicated world of laboratory blood testing and describes it in a way that parents can understand, giving them the information they need to have an educated conversation with their child’s physician.
If you want to learn more about potential treatments for ASDs, need help talking to your doctor, or don’t know where to begin, we are here to help. Check out our Empowered Library for more resources.