Common Abnormalities in Biochemistry

Common Biochemical Imbalances

Getting to the root causes of your child’s condition or symptoms can be a little like playing health detective because of common abnormalities in biochemistry. It can feel downright overwhelming to try and figure out what may be contributing to your child’s symptoms.

It helps, however, if you start by looking at imbalances that are commonly seen in children impacted by the “new childhood epidemics” such as autism, ADHD, asthma, allergies, autoimmune disorders, mood disorders and other children’s chronic health conditions. Work with your healthcare practitioner to identify what may be out of balance in your child.

The following is a list of possible underlying conditions and abnormalities in biochemistry that may be affecting your child. Bring this list to your integrative practitioner and use it as discussion tool as you work together to identify your child’s underlying imbalances. Ask your practitioner, “Might my child have . . . ?”

Gastrointestinal Abnormalities

Gastrointestinal dysbiosis and abnormalities are common in children with chronic health conditions of all kinds. The following tests can help your practitioner pinpoint areas of imbalance in your child’s gastrointestinal tract.

• SIBO
• Food sensitivities and intolerances
• Organic Acid Test (OAT)
• Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA)
• Clostridia
• Proprionic acid
• Parasites

Relevant Genetic Mutations

These mutations are also known as SNPs – single nucleotide polymorphisms.

• MTHFR
• SUOX
• CBS
• Catechol O-Methyl Transferase (COMT)
• GAD 65 (Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase)
• Others

Excessive Inflammation / Oxidative Stress

Chronic inflammation is a common root cause of chronic health conditions. Ask your practitioner to look for:

• C-reactive protein (CRP)
• Homocysteine
• Phospholipase A2 (PLA-2)
• Metallothionein protein dysfunction
• Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and nitrix oxide – reduce inflammation
• Low glutathione

Seizures

Absence seizures are often missed in children with neurological disorders. If your child has episodes of staring off into space or not paying attention, please consider having a neurologist check for absence seizures.

• EEG (electroencephalograph)

Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Mitochondrial dysfunction can be common in children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.

• Carnitine
• Free carnitine
• Alinine
• Lysine
• Lactic acid

Neurotransmitter Imbalances

Neurotransmitter imbalances are common in children with mood, behavior and attention disorders. Have your practitioner check for:

• Excitotoxicity (excess glutamate)
• Serotonin: Quinolinic/5-Hydroxyindoleacetic (5-HIAA) ratio
• Dopamine
• Norepinephrine
• Epinephrine

Fatty Acid Imbalances / Malabsorption of Fats

• Fatty acid profile
• Low cholesterol

Lyme and Lyme Co-Infections

Lyme disease and co-infectors are common, but often overlooked, causes of neurological and autoimmune symptoms.

• Borrelia
• Babesia
• Bartonella
• Erlichia

PANS/PANDAS

PANS is Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, and PANDAS is Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infection. They often are also associated with Lyme disease co-infections and are often overlooked when a child has neurological, behavioral, mood and autoimmune symptoms, especially if there is a sudden change or onset. Ask your practitioner to test for:

• Shingles
• CMV (cytomegalovirus)
• Measles virus
• Pathogenic bacterial infection, such as Staphylococcus aureus
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection
  
• Influenza infection
• Heavy metals and other toxins
• Cerebral folate deficiency and defect in folic acid metabolism
• Low lithium

Congenital Factors

These factors might impact health and can be passed on from mother to child.

• HHV-6
• Varicella
• Shingles
• CMV (cytomegalovirus)
• Measles
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection
• Clostridia

Metabolic Dysfunction

Blood-sugar dysregulation is common in children wtih chronic health conditions. Have your practitioner check for:

• Insulin resistance
• Fasting glucose
• Hemoglobin A1C

Autoimmune Markers

Autoimmunity is more common in children these days than most suspect. Have your practitioner check for:

• TGF – Beta 1 Cytokine Transforming Growth Factor
• AntiNuclear Antibodies (ANA)

In Conclusion

While exploring these areas of concern, it is important make sure the child’s diet, environment and lifestyle be as clean as possible to support and enhance the healing process.

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