Introduction
Cholesterol is an essential fat extremely important for brain functioning. It is required to produce steroid hormones and bile salts, to insulate the nerves of the peripheral nervous system of the myelin sheath, to assist in the functioning of the cell membrane, to help modulate Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), to maintain serotonin in the brain, and also an important component in activating sonic hedgehog, a necessary developmental protein. Sonic hedge hog is instrumental in the development of T-cells in the thymus which regulates the immune system. The normal range of cholesterol should be between 160 mg/dL and 200 mg/dL. Many ASD children have been found to be below 160 mg/dL which may possibly indicate a genetic disease relating to cholesterol metabolism and also associated with autism, called Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS). Low levels of cholesterols are, however, an issue for ASD children and improvements have been documented in areas of aggressive and self-injurious behaviors, sleepless nights, physical walking difficulties, socialization, speech, decreased infections and skin rashes, improved muscle tone, weight gain, increase growth spurts, decreased tactile sensitivities and overall decreased autistic behaviors.
Related Sites
Cholesterol Balance – A Major Factor in Many Chronic Disorders Description: William Shaw, PhD, of the Great Plains Lab, discusses the risks of low and high cholesterol and the testing that the GPL offers.
Kurt Woeller DO (Low Cholesterol) Description: Kurt Woeller DO explains about the issues surrounding low cholesterol and autism and how to treat the problem.
Books
Tools
Parent Forums/Blogs
Some forums require you to sign in to Yahoo or Facebook to locate forum names.
Forum/Blog Name: Autism Jabberwocky Description: Studying Low Cholesterol in Autism.
Consumer Corner
Community Library
Low Cholesterol, Autism and Oxytocin Receptors Description: Kurt Woeller DO discusses the issues of autism, low cholesterol and the oxytocin receptors. He feels addressing these issues will improve cognitive problems seen in this population.
Cholesterol and Autism – Can Eggs In The Diet Save the Autistic Brain? Description: Can a diet with lots of eggs save the autism brain? This may be the simple tool that makes the difference in the lives of many children with autism.