functional medicine and nutritional genomics - American Association ...
functional medicine and nutritional genomics - American Association ...
functional medicine and nutritional genomics - American Association ...
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AAPI’S NUTRITION GUIDE TO OPTIMAL HEALTH: USING PRINCIPLES OF FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS<br />
anti-inflammatory properties, <strong>and</strong> research suggests<br />
that omega-3 fatty acid supplements may reduce<br />
the pain <strong>and</strong> inflammation associated with<br />
inflammatory bowel diseases. If the child has<br />
severe gastrointestinal symptoms or if the<br />
gastroenterologist has identified any gastrointestinal<br />
inflammation, a therapeutic level of omega-3 fatty<br />
acids for a short period of time may be a good<br />
option for the child.<br />
Glutamine - An amino acid necessary for<br />
gastrointestinal function. One of its most important<br />
roles is to help protect the lining of the<br />
gastrointestinal tract known as the mucosa. Recent<br />
research studies have linked glutamine to several<br />
other GI health benefits, such as aiding in the<br />
maintenance of the gut barrier, promoting intestinal<br />
cell growth, promoting healing of the mucosa,<br />
inhibiting the growth of ‚bad bacteria‛ in the gut,<br />
improving diarrhea, <strong>and</strong> reducing the symptoms of<br />
inflammatory bowel diseases (67).<br />
Glutamine is manufactured by the body, but it’s<br />
also found in many dietary sources, such as beef,<br />
pork, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, dairy products,<br />
cabbage, spinach, <strong>and</strong> parsley. If the child has a<br />
very poor diet or suffers from certain medical<br />
conditions, infections, or prolonged stress, his<br />
glutamine level may be depleted <strong>and</strong> he may<br />
benefit from a glutamine supplement.<br />
Glutamine supplements are generally labeled as Lglutamine<br />
<strong>and</strong> are sold as an individual<br />
supplement or as part of a protein supplement.<br />
There is no RDA for glutamine, so the child’s<br />
Registered Dietitian will suggest a proper dosage.<br />
Step 4: Identify <strong>and</strong> Eliminate Problematic Foods<br />
Common gastrointestinal symptoms, such as reflux,<br />
vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal distension,<br />
gaseousness, loose stools, diarrhea, <strong>and</strong> chronic<br />
constipation, are indications that the child may<br />
have an allergy, sensitivity, or intolerance to one<br />
or more foods. The most common food allergies<br />
among children are cow’s milk, wheat, egg, soy,<br />
peanuts, <strong>and</strong> tree nuts. Problematic foods can<br />
have a huge impact on a child’s overall health,<br />
gut function, brain function, feeding, <strong>and</strong> behavior,<br />
so it’s crucial to identify <strong>and</strong> eliminate them from<br />
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his diet. The good news is that if the child’s GI<br />
symptoms are indeed being caused by one or<br />
more problematic foods, you’ll quickly see a<br />
significant improvement in his symptoms once the<br />
foods are eliminated.<br />
Medical Treatment - If the child still has GI<br />
symptoms after trying the basic <strong>nutritional</strong><br />
interventions, his physician may refer him to a<br />
pediatric gastroenterologist. A pediatric<br />
gastroenterologist will examine the child for more<br />
serious GI disorders, such as gastroesophageal<br />
reflux disease (GERD), eosinophilic<br />
gastrointestinal disorders (EGID), irritable bowel<br />
syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease<br />
(IBD), intestinal inflammation, gastritis, celiac<br />
disease, abnormal intestinal anatomy, lactose<br />
intolerance, sucrose or fructose malabsorption, fat<br />
malabsortion, enteric infection, or parasites. The<br />
gastroenterologist may have to perform certain<br />
procedures to make his diagnosis, such as a<br />
diagnostic trial of proton-pump inhibitor, trial of<br />
lactose restriction, pH Probe, abdominal radiograph,<br />
lactose breath test, measure lactase-specific<br />
activity, stool analysis,<br />
esophagogastroduodenoscopy, <strong>and</strong> colonoscopy.<br />
The results of the testing will help the<br />
gastroenterologist recommend the appropriate<br />
medical treatment, which may include medication<br />
<strong>and</strong> additional dietary interventions. For more<br />
detailed information related to identification <strong>and</strong><br />
treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in children<br />
with autism refer to Evaluation, Diagnosis, <strong>and</strong><br />
Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorder in Individuals<br />
with ASDs published in the Journal of the<br />
<strong>American</strong> Academy of Pediatrics, January 2010<br />
(64).<br />
Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders (EGID) is a<br />
chronic <strong>and</strong> complex group of disorders<br />
characterized by having excessive amounts of<br />
eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, in one or<br />
more specific places in the digestive system. For<br />
instance, if the child has Eosinophilic Esophagitis<br />
(EE), he has high amounts of eosinophils in his<br />
esophagus. If he has Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis<br />
(EG), his stomach <strong>and</strong> small intestines are<br />
affected, <strong>and</strong> if he has Eosinophilic Colitis (EC),<br />
the problem is in his colon. The symptoms of<br />
2012