Dear Doctor Wilson,
Doctor examines a young patient
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience on what you’ve determined to be the CARB syndrome. I am glad you found our article of interest. I was wondering if your patients get better when they abstain from high fructose corn syrup? Your definition of the disease includes the word “reversible.”
I have worked with an autistic child at this end who got better and remains well by not consuming high fructose corn syrup or food ingredients known to contain trace amounts of mercury, cadmium and lead. This is a child who was at the peak of his disease totally unmanageable.
I would welcome the opportunity to work together with you in the future.
Kind Regards,
R
Dr. Wilson replies:
My approach is centered around limiting fructose intake to less than 25 grams per day. That really isn’t possible without eliminating both sucrose and HFCS. Although there is some evidence that HFCS is metabolized differently than sucrose, there is a large body of evidence that excessive fructose from either source is problematic. Although heavy metal poisoning may play a role for some patients, I believe they are secondary issues.
Because I believe that CARB syndrome is a reversible brain disease caused by the direct toxic effects of excessive fructose and high glycemic carbohydrates, I focus on limiting these components and use various techniques for stabilizing glucose levels (adding acids or healthy fats to carbohhydrates, Cinsulin, chronmium picolinate, etc.).
Because these patients have symptoms reflecting low levels of monoamine neurotransmitters, I also work to restore normal neurotransmitter levels. Several approaches are helpful including using precursor supplements (combinations of tyrosine, tryptophan and 5-htp with co-factors). I also measure homocysteine levels. If it is above 10 then it is likely the patient has inadequate levels of folic acid in their brain. As you likely know, folic acid is an essential co-factor the the production of monoamine neurotransmitters. Folic acid has to be converted to l-methylfolate to cross the blood brain barrier so these patients must take l-methylfolate. I also recommend that patients take omega 3 supplements for general brain health.
Although limiting HFCS will be of great benefit to these patients, adding these and other elements results in much more consistent outcomes. I now treat patients with autism exactly the same way I treat patients with anorexia, bipolar II, PTSD, ADHD, fibromyalgia, obesity, anxiety disorders, depression (weight gain type) and other conditions and it works. It works because I believe they are all part of the same pathological process, CARBSyndrome.
