Bacteria and Oxalates

A very high percentage of children with autism have GI problems, carbohydrate malabsorption, and bacterial overgrowth. It has also been found that many children with autism have unusually large amounts of oxalates. This is not surprising since there is a connection between all these issues.

The scientific research that links LPS to oxalate issues.

Kidney stone, the most well known symptom of excess oxalates has been linked to nanobacteria and carbohydrate malabsorption. Recent evidence indicates that formation of kidney stones is a result of a nanobacterial disease akin to Helicobacter pylori infection and peptic ulcer disease.[1] Carbohydrate malabsorption has been found to be associated with increased risk of kidney stones. [2]

LPS, the bacterial toxin, impacts oxalates in multiple ways. One research study found that LPS has a profound effect on oxalates by creating renal cell desensitization to oxalate stimulation, thus impairing the body's ability to protect itself from oxalates.[3] LPS also seems to have a key role in creating the problem of excess oxalates in the body.

Susan Owens, the leader of the Low Oxalate Diet for Autism is blaming the following conditions for causing the high level of oxalates in children with autism:[4]

Leaky gut Proof
Inflamed gut Proof
Diarrhea or constipation Proof
Signal from angiotensin II Proof
Poor fat digestion Proof

LPS affects ALL these conditions. Click on the links next to each condition to view the research articles that prove the connection to LPS.

It is important to note that not all parents who claim to do SCD will resolve their child oxalate problem. Many parents make the mistake of feeding too many nuts and beans to their child before their child's gut has healed. Nuts and beans are more difficult to digest than meat, green veggies and fruit. The poorly digested nuts and beans will feed the bacteria who will continue to perpetuate the oxalate issues.

References

[1] Ciftcioglu N, Bjorklund M, Kuorikoski K, Bergstrom K, Kajander EO. Nanobacteria: an infectious cause for kidney stone formation. Kidney Int 1999;56: 1893-8. Abstract

[2]Baldwin DN, Spencer JL, Jeffries-Stokes CA. Carbohydrate intolerance and kidney stones in children in the Goldfields. J Paediatr Child Health 2003;39: 381-5. Abstract

[3] Jonassen JA, Kohjimoto Y, Scheid CR, Schmidt M. Oxalate toxicity in renal cells. Urol Res. 2005 Nov;33(5):329-39. Epub 2005 Nov 13. Abstract
[4] Message 15545 from the Trying Low Oxalate list at Yahooo Groups.