Autism, Children and Transfer Factors

AUTISM - The Clinical Use of Transfer Factor in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Kenneth A. Bock, MD - "Numerous anecdotal reports have been accumulating on the use of transfer factor in children with autistic spectrum disorders and improvement in their clinical behaviors. This would certainly make sense in terms of the Th1 type cytokine profile that these transfer factors would encourage. Therefore we are presently studying a number of children with autistic spectrum disorders that appear to exhibit regressive behavior after vaccinations, especially the MMR vaccination. We have found that the serum cytokine profiles we began looking at were not helpful. Likewise rubella and rubeola titers did not prove that helpful as well.”

“We also looked at retinol levels and these have been decreased in a significant number of these children. We have found the most useful objective measurement to be the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS), which we administer at the beginning of the study and then at six weeks into the study and then three months into the study, after they have been taking polyvalent Transfer Factor at a dose of three 200 mg capsules TID. Since Transfer Factor has been shown to be an effective immune modulator, with potential utility in both chronic viral infections as well as certain autoimmune disorders that are predominantly Th2 phenotypes, we felt that improving the immunological situation with the use of Transfer Factor could subsequently improve the clinical situation as well. Our preliminary small study has shown improvement in a number of these children as evidenced by the GARS evaluations. In addition to any behavioral improvements, the most noted improvement has been the marked decrease in incidence of infectious illnesses in these children."

In a landmark study, Dr. H. Hugh Fudenberg, M.D. found that of 22 Autistic children, 21 improved significantly and 10 were considered to be recovered and mainstreamed in their schools following Transfer Factor treatment. After the treatment was discontinued, some showed regression, but none returned to their prior baseline levels. Dr. Fudenberg used the lymphocyte based Transfer Factor in his treatment, and while these results have been replicated using that treatment protocol, they have not been replicated using the colostrum based treatment. Recent Publications Authored by Dr. H. Hugh Fudenberg

NOTE: Dr. Les Tremaine writes that the dosage for autism and autism spectrum disorders is 1800 mg. of Transfer Factor. Start with the Transfer Factor Classic. Then you may be able to go to the RioVida juice (with Transfer Factor) and then to the Transfer Factor Advanced and/or the TF Plus. Start with 300 mg. 3 times a day, then 600 mg. 3 times a day, then 900 mg. a day. There may be detoxing involved so you may have to start more slowly. One mother said when her child took less than 1800 mg. per day, the symptoms came back." (One bottle of TF classic contains 90 capsules and one capsule is 200 mg. The other bottles of TF contain 60 capsules.
When purchasing Transfer Factor by the case, you can get 12 bottles for the price of 10)

Auto-Immunity, Vaccines and Autism

V.K. Singh has studied autism as an autoimmune disorder for over fifteen years. He believes that up to eighty percent (and possibly all) cases of autism are caused by an abnormal immune reaction, commonly known as autoimmunity. The autoimmune process in autism results from a complex interaction between the immune system and the nervous system. He hypothesizes that an auto-immune reaction to basic brain structures, especially the myelin sheath, plays a critical role in causing the neurological impairments of patients with autism. He has suggested that an immune insult to developing myelin (after a natural infection or vaccination) causes "nicks" or small changes in the myelin sheath. These changes ultimately lead to life-long disturbances of higher mental functions such as learning, memory, communication, social interaction, etc.

A disease is sometimes referred to as "autoimmune" when the etiology and pathogenesis is not well known or established. Autoimmunity is an abnormal immune reaction in which the immune system becomes primed to react against body organs, and the end result is autoimmune disease. Several factors contribute to the pathogenic mechanism of autoimmune diseases. These illnesses are commonly believed to be triggered by infectious agents; further, they are generally linked to genes that control immune responses. They cause immune abnormalities of T lymphocytes (one type of white blood cell); they induce the production of auto antibodies; they involve hormonal factors; and they generally show a gender preference.

Immune system disorders fall into two broad categories:

Immunodeficiency - when the immune system does not recognize invaders as being undesirable and therefore does not mobilize to destroy them.

Autoimmunity (self-destruction) - when the immune system fails to recognize 'self' as friendly and mounts an attack on itself." Explaining Autoimmune Disease by David Isenberg, PhD and John Morrow, PhD

Duane Townsend, MD - "Transfer Factor Classic and Transfer Factor Advanced Formula helps to modulate the immune system." (autoimmunity - over-active immune system)

Baruch Rosen MD - "Transfer Factor Advanced Formula Plus, a preparation which enhances and stimulates the bodies own immune system to fight against all pathogens, viral or otherwise." (Immunodeficiency - underactive immune system)