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Friday 7 August 2015

Has anyone tried Cinnamon (or Sodium Benzoate) for Autism?




I have written several posts about Cinnamon and its metabolite Sodium Benzoate. I know that some readers are now using it for its cholesterol lowering and insulin sensitivity improving properties that were shown in the clinical trials I highlighted.













But has anyone tried it for autism?


The first time I wrote about it I did acquire a big bag of the correct variety (Cinnamomum verum or Ceylon Cinnamon) and also a bag of the very high flavanol (epicatechin) cocoa.  My cinnamon trial was limited to seeing what it looked/tasted like when added to the Polypill concoction Monty, aged 12 with ASD, drinks at breakfast.  It was rather like adding a teaspoonful of fine sand, so not much “testing” took place.

Now that Monty has shown an ability, and even enjoyment, for pill swallowing, things are much simpler.  The cinnamon can be put inside gelatin capsules; it’s a little messy, but no great trouble.

Having recently been researching about the gene enhancers and silencers, which are controlled by the 95% of your DNA that rarely gets studied (the exome is the part everyone studies and some people test for abnormalities), it did occur to me that I already have two safe substances, that I have both researched and acquired, which have a gene expression enhancing effect.


Cinnamon “Experiment”

Even though summer is the wrong time to test anything in Monty, aged 12 with ASD, since his pollen allergy triggers a regression, I decided to make a trial.  I have 1 kg of this special cinnamon, and so it’s not like I need to ration it.

I gave about 2.5ml of cinnamon split into three daily doses using some gelatin capsules that used to be full of another supplement (choline).


Results so far:-

Complete absence of summertime bad behaviors, which are already 90% subdued by Verapamil, but do sometimes present themselves.

Interesting behavioral developments:- 


·        Like many people with autism, Monty likes order.  So turn off lights, shut doors, wash dirty hands etc.  The latest surprise was that when I took something from the rear of my car and he shut the tail gate (boot). Given the size of my car, for someone of his small stature, this is quite an achievement, since he really has to stretch on his toes.  This is the first time he has ever done this and now he does it every time.

·        Monty can brush his teeth and get dressed, but his clothes are sitting there on his bed.  The other day when told to go upstairs and brush his teeth, he returned fully clothed, having chosen/found his clothes all by himself.

·        On awakening, sometimes Monty might say “can I have a glass of water”, to which he might be told go downstairs and get water, and usually someone would go down with him.  Recently I find him in the early morning sitting at the kitchen table playing on his iPad with the glass of water he served himself with.

·        Piano playing also seems to be going very well, indeed on Wednesday after his piano lesson the teacher started telling me that she has taught 73 children with autism and never has she had someone start at his beginning level and progress so far.  This is clearly not down to cinnamon (it was greatly helped by bumetanide, atorvastatin and NAC), but why is she telling me this now, after over three years of lessons?

·        Speech for people with Classic autism, even when it develops, is always a little odd, reading a book out loud or singing does not mean you can speak.  It is as if the mother tongue is a foreign language and needs to be translated in your head. So for me it would be like speaking German.  It is my fourth language, I know lots of words, but I cannot think in German.

Many people with autism like to know their schedule. Today Monty was going to go swimming, amongst other things, but a change of plan meant we had gone to eat.  So I said to Monty “I am too full to go swimming, we will go later”.

A few minutes later as I stopped the car, Monty says “swimming when Dad feels better”.

There is nothing super clever in that statement, but it is not the sort of unprompted comment I usually get to hear for son number two.


These are all little steps and may be coincidental, but normally with Monty things go backwards in summer.  Even effective interventions appear to lose their effectiveness. 

I still keep an open mind on cinnamon, but I did just order a big bag of empty gelatin capsules.


Anybody else tried Cinnamon?

It would be useful to know from people who found that Bumetanide or Sulforaphane were effective for autism, whether cinnamon also has a positive effect.

There are several reasons why it may help:-

·        Change in NMDA signaling, affecting the excitatory/inhibitory balance
·        Affects gene expression related to oxidative stress (why cinnamon helps reduce cholesterol and improve insulin sensitivity)
·        Increases BDNF, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor  (aka “brain fertilizer”)
·        NaB (sodium benzoate) reduces Microglial and Astroglial Inflammatory Responses
·        NaB exerts its anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of NF-κB
·        NaB suppresses the activation of p21ras in microglia
·        NaB can also regulate many immune signaling pathways responsible for inflammation, glial cell activation, switching of T-helper cells, modulation of regulatory T cells

NF-κB is the master regulator of inflammation in the same way that Nrf 2 is for oxidative stress.

Incorrect regulation of NF-κB has been linked to cancer, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases, septic shock, viral infection, and improper immune development. NF-κB has also been implicated in processes of synaptic plasticity and memory


In autism it seems that we want to activate Nrf2 but to inhibit NF-κB.  Safely inhibiting NF-κB is the Holy Grail for many diseases.


We covered RAS in earlier posts.  The RAS protein is abnormally active in cancer.

So called RASopathies are developmental syndromes caused by mutations in genes that alter the Ras subfamily.  RASopathies are often associated with autistic symptoms and/or intellectual disability/mental retardation.

Common inhibitors of RAS are statins and Farnesyltransferase inhibitors.  Most Farnesyltransferase inhibitors are expensive cancer research drugs, but one is gingerol.

Since statins do very clearly improve the autism of Monty, aged 12 with ASD, I did try adding gingerol as my “Statin plus” therapy.  At the dose I used there was no noticeable effect.

However, I now learn that “NaB suppressed the activation of p21ras in microglia”.  P21, RAS, and p21ras are different names for the same protein.  So it would seem that NaB is therefore a RAS inhibitor and perhaps a more potent one than gingerol.
   
Too much BDNF, just like too much lawn fertilizer, may not be a good thing.

BDNF is low in schizophrenia, but is thought to be elevated in “most” autism.
   



 Abstract
Upon activation, microglia and astrocytes produce a number of proinflammatory molecules that participate in the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative disorders. This study explores the anti-inflammatory property of cinnamon metabolite sodium benzoate (NaB) in microglia and astrocytes. NaB, but not sodium formate, was found to inhibit LPS-induced expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) and surface markers (CD11b, CD11c, and CD68) in mouse microglia. Similarly, NaB also inhibited fibrillar amyloid β (Aβ)-, prion peptide-, double-stranded RNA (polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid)-, HIV-1 Tat-, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium+-, IL-1β-, and IL-12 p402-induced microglial expression of iNOS. In addition to microglia, NaB also suppressed the expression of iNOS in mouse peritoneal macrophages and primary human astrocytes. Inhibition of NF-κB activation by NaB suggests that NaB exerts its anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of NF-κB. Although NaB reduced the level of cholesterol in vivo in mice, reversal of the inhibitory effect of NaB on iNOS expression, and NF-κB activation by hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA, mevalonate, and farnesyl pyrophosphate, but not cholesterol and ubiquinone, suggests that depletion of intermediates, but not end products, of the mevalonate pathway is involved in the anti-inflammatory effect of NaB. Furthermore, we demonstrate that an inhibitor of p21ras farnesyl protein transferase suppressed the expression of iNOS, that activation of p21ras alone was sufficient to induce the expression of iNOS, and that NaB suppressed the activation of p21ras in microglia. These results highlight a novel anti-inflammatory role of NaB via modulation of the mevalonate pathway and p21ras.

  



ABSTRACT Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common human demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Sodium benzoate (NaB), a metabolite of cinnamon and a FDA-approved drug against urea cycle disorders in children, is a widely used food additive, which is long known for its microbicidal effect. However, recent studies reveal that apart from its microbicidal effects, NaB can also regulate many immune signaling pathways responsible for inflammation, glial cell activation, switching of T-helper cells, modulation of regulatory T cells, cell-to-cell contact, and migration. As a result, NaB alters the neuroimmunology of EAE and ameliorates the disease process of EAE. In this review, we have made an honest attempt to analyze these newly-discovered immunomodulatory activities of NaB and associated mechanisms that may help in considering this drug for various inflammatory human disorders including MS as primary or adjunct therapy.



Conclusion

Rather to my surprise, Cinnamon does seem to have a noticeable cognitive effect in the type of autism I am interested in.  It appears, rather like the statin, to promote improved adaptive behavior by reducing inhibition and increasing spontaneous thought and actual decision making.

Of all the many possible modes of action, I am thinking that inhibition of NF-κB and/ or RAS inhibition are most likely since the effect is very similar to that produced by the statin.

I will certainly continue with cinnamon and when my size 000 gelatin capsules arrive, I will look at different doses.  Currently the dose is about 2.5 ml split three times a day, using size 00 gelatin capsules.








27 comments:

  1. I am autistic and I am allergic to sodium benzoate. It is used as a preservative in cooldrinks. It makes me struggle with breathing. I know another autistic woman who experiences this too.

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    1. Thanks for the comments. I think that means you are histamine intolerant. So in theory you should also find cinnamon problematic. I was rather expecting my son to be histamine intolerant, given his pollen allergy, but he shows no negative effects at all.

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  2. Peter. We had good success with Sulforaphane and will be re-starting Bumetanide (we only did .5mg/day the first time) in about a month. I would like to try Cinnamon. You mention the "special cinnamon" from Sri Lanka. Could you elaborate more on that? Much like the broccoli sprouts, I am guessing I could not run to my local vitamin shop and just get any kind of Cinnamon supplement.

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    1. Many health food shops sell this kind of cinnamon. It should be called true cinnamon, or ceylon cinnamon or Sri Lanka cinnamon. Non specific cinnamon is going to be the cheaper version, that will work but has some impurities that can cause problems at high doses.

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    2. How long was it before you noticed these positive effects?

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    3. A few days is all it took. At first I thought there were slightly negative effects but by day three it was clear that the net effect was positive. The effect is not on the scale of bumetanide, but if it so simple/safe/cheap why not have it. Numerous substances may help specific people a small amount, but are they worth it in terms of side effects/cost/practicality etc?

      So I would suggest trying it for a week and then decide whether there are effects.

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  3. Thank you for this informative post on the affects of cinammon on autism...I have a ten-year old with high funcitoning autism and am always on the look out for alternative treatments to try...I wonder with your background in research if you'd ever heard of rapamycin as a treatment for autism: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/22/health/brains-of-autistic-children-have-too-many-synapses-study-suggests.html?_r=0

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    1. There is information on this blog about mtor/rapamycin.

      Just google "mtor epiphany".

      In fact it seems that while some people with ASD would benefit from less mtor activity, some have opposite problem.

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  4. Very interesting, thank you Peter. I have ordered some bulk ceylon cinnamon through an ebay shop - there are pleny of them, and buying it in bulk is very affordable!.

    Perhaps add this to the list of things of why it may be helping (esp with holding off summer allergic reactions):

    Cinnamon extract inhibits degranulation and de novo synthesis of inflammatory mediators in mast cells http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.12122/full

    "CE might be a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of allergic diseases.
    ... The inhibitory effects of CE are not restricted to degranulation, but involve also the de novo synthesis of mast cell mediators upon activation of the cells with appropriate triggers."

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  5. Peter,
    After reading your previous Ceylon post, I ordered some organic Ceylon from Amazon (Frontier brand), and my 8-year old autistic son has been taking 1 teaspoon daily for over a week. (He has mild autism overall, but he has MR/ID.) I think there's been a noticeable improvement- he often babbles repeatedly about superheroes and runs back and forth when bored (stimming)- he still exhibits both behaviors but it's like the volume has been turned down. So I'll continue with the Ceylon even though it could all be a coincidence, of course. My hope is the effect (if real) will increase. Thanks!

    PS: I thought getting him to eat 1 teaspoon daily would be very difficult- but the Ceylon has a mild flavor so he eats it without trouble in applesauce.

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  6. Peter and others--
    Am wondering what you and others have thought about cinnamon if used for more than a couple of weeks. If it has the effect similar to a statin, if not taking a statin, than this might be one to try???? What dosage has worked best? Thanks very much -- MH

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    1. The effect is not the same as the statin.

      It may be the people with autism + allergies that will see a particular benefit.

      3g a day (about one teaspoon) is what has been shown to have some measurable biological effect in trials (not related to autism). This is seen as a safe long term dosage.

      It is very easy to trial it and then decide.

      Older people with diabetes and/or high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol should also benefit.

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  7. Just in case anyone else is looking at this old post, my own tip for getting a teaspoon of cinnamon in without having to encapsulate it is to mix it with hot melted butter (or something else fatty, probably coconut oil would be fine) to get rid of the chalky, acrid taste. I can palatably split the teaspoon of cinnamon between two pieces of toast this way. I imagine it would also help the taste when mixing into a smoothie or whatnot as well. Cheers.

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  8. Seems to have a calm effect,
    Autism severe learning disabilities.
    No side effects:

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  9. We have used cinnamon with organic honey for years to treat hay fever..it was made grandmothers remedy.

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  10. Hi, from past 3-4 months my son insists on taking cinnamon sticks about 1inch (he likes to chew on the sticks directly). He developed the taste for it on his own, cause none of us at home really chew on the sticks, these are just present in the spice box that's it.

    I let him consume these, thinking it's something his body is demanding
    out of deficiency of something. Good thing is his behaviour improved drastically,so did the attention span , also found it as an effective reward for getting the tasks completed 🤗

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    1. Hi shruti, it is great that some kids with autism benefit so much from something so simple.

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  11. Hi Peter,

    I am planning to try out cinnamon as it is a potent inhibitor of STAT4. I did a 23andme test and I have a SNP in STAT4. As several people in my family have arthritis, lupus, Sjogren's, all implicated in my SNP of SNP, it seems that cinnamon will be a winner.

    I will update after I have tried it.

    Also, do you still use pioglitazone for Monty's summertime raging? Verapamil has been huge for me, and since verapamil is such a potent mast cell stabilizer, I am wondering if there is additional benefit from anti-inflammatories.

    Thanks again for everything.

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    1. Yes, I still use Pioglitazone in Spring and Summer. It continues to be very effective, when Verapamil alone is insufficient.

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  12. What dose pioglitazone do you give, Peter? Any side effects? We are fighting lots of teeth pain and inflammation this summer, along with allergies. Worst of all he has had vocal tics and throat clearing tics appear for the first time. My son has several baby teeth coming out with adult teeth coming right in behind, 7 in total. Inflammation galore, needing ponstan and ibuprofen constantly, along with his regular polypill. But its not enough. PEA seemed to help though it made him somewhat tired at first, but then after a few hours he got very moody, much like his reactions to cbd. I get the same reaction, as does my older son when he tried cbd, too much endocannib receptor activity. Might try pioglitazone or possibly clonidine for tics. They disappear when he's on high dose nsaids but it seems like something more powerful is needed.
    Im not sure what to try next.
    Mkate

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    1. Mkate, we use 30mg once a day. There have been no side effects. We use it for about 4 months a year to match the allergy.
      In our case vocal or motor tics dissappear after a 5 day course of Prednisone. This has only occurred 4 or 5 times in a decade of treating autism. Such a short course of treatment is without side effects.

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  13. Thanks Peter. I will see about getting pioglitazone soon. Prednisone was impossible for my son to take, the taste was far too bitter. I may ask his Dr.for a syrup that is palatable if things keep getting worse. It's only a temporary fix though. These teeth are taking forever to come and go...I worry suppressing inflammation too much may be slowing down his body's natural tooth eruption cycle.

    Off topic question for you, Peter, or anyone else reading...whatever happened to Tyler? I miss reading his posts, he had some great suggestions. Hope you're doing well Tyler! ( if by some chance you see this)
    MKate

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    1. MKate, some pills without a coating taste really bad. If you put the pill in something like strawberry jam, your son may be happy to swallow it. As a child, I took my codeine phospate with jam.

      I did also wonder about anti-inflammatories delaying the tooth cycle. I doubt they do.

      I also wonder what happened to Tyler. Readers do come and go, but Tyler was a prolific commenter. I am nearly finished with my book and I do include Tyler and his BCAA therapy.

      Sometimes things have happened to the child(ren) and other times life has changed for the parent.

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    2. I will try that, Peter. My son is very smart and always knows when I'm trying to hide a pill, etc, but he also never refuses sweets, so it may work. Going to ask his doc today for a prednisone formulation syrup and see if he can tolerate that. I honestly do not know what exactly is slowing down his teeth. We healed a cavity on his upper canine baby tooth instead of having to undergo sedation to fill it last year. It wasn't down to the dentin, so I used a hydroxyapatite toothpaste on it 3 times daily, an oral probiotic, sodium hypochlorous solution, and gengigel. It remained a bit dark, but there were no signs of infection after 2 weeks or even pain when chewing, and I've been vigilant with his dental care ever since. But now I am wondering if it has caused an underlying problem. Doubtless there is an autoimmune component which is still not being addressed. He takes Singulair, verapamil 40 mg/day, EPA fish oil, LDN, and NAC, all of which affect that overall inflammatory cascade involved in tooth shedding. Plus daily ponstan. I think I will back off the oil and verapamil a bit but keep the pain relief.
      Tyler's amino acid therapy posts have always stuck in the back of my mind. It was a clever idea and I always admire those that think outside of the box. Hope all is well with him and his sons. Same to you, Peter. Thanks very much, as always~

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  14. Hi Peter, i was just reading posts as my usual morning routine (believe it or not, i open 3 things with my morning coffee: linkedin, yahoomail and your blog :)). and i noticed tooth cycle comment, which made me wonder as i have twins - autistic one has only dropped 2 teeth, but other one already 6 or 7. we also noticed while new tooth was growing, one is being displaced was struggling to drop. we went to doctor, who was indian and he mentioned how toothgums are weak in indian people due to air/water contamination by fluorides, which made me to wonder as i was using non-fluoride toothpaste, so i switched to fluoride toothpaste which i think helped to get that dropping tooth more lose and drop easier.

    Other comment that made me excited is you mentioned you are writing a book, wow, fantastic, please post here once ready. looking forward to buy and read.

    One side question i have Peter, is: have you tried high dose B6 (P5P) for Monty, i say high i mean 30-50mg, to help cognition before you tried other brain boosting therapies like agmatine, clonozepam etc.? I was giving 7mg P5p as a part of her multivitamin but started to give extra 20mg last few days she start to experience series of depressive sad cries for no reason (extra magnesium not helping either), so perhaps I should stop.

    Timur

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    1. Timur, high dose B vitamins do sound interesting, but in many cases after an initial improvement things get worse. Biotin (vitamin B7) is a good example.

      Some people have suggested that high doses of one B vitamin later has an effect on the other B vitamins. There is no real evidence to support this, but nobody is likely to research it either.

      I did not try high dose B6. If you have a negative result, stopping sounds a smart move.

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