This post is part of a continuing series, The Top Fifteen Things a New Parent Should Know which was written to the parents of a particular baby boy who has Down syndrome. These are the things I wish I had known from the beginning when my own daughter was born.
Constipation is a gut wrenching problem in our kids. Literally. If you spend any time at all on Down syndrome related forums and email lists, you will see this problem discussed. Yes, we moms actually get on the Internet and talk about poop.
There is a comprehensive collection of parent solutions to constipation elsewhere on this site, so I won’t list them here. Instead, I’ll look at three areas to focus on preventively to keep the gut healthy.
First, a healthy gut is lined with a carpet of microvilli on the ends of the absorptive cells. These tiny tendrils produce enzymes for digestion. A healthy gut hosts billions of friendly bacteria which also digest food, and which form a protective wall against unfriendly bacteria and parasites which attempt to set up residence. These friendly bacteria form an important part of the immune system. Finally, a healthy gut has regular, strong peristalsis, the rhythmic squeezing that moves food through the gut.
Problems in any of these areas are interconnected. If peristalsis is weak, partially digested food remains to feed toxic yeast and unhealthy bacteria, which cause lesions along the length of the gut wall. These unwelcome invaders gradually destroy the microvilli. The unhealthy guts in our kids can have flattened and injured microvilli which cannot produce enzymes. To make matters worse, the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is responsible for peristalsis is manufactured in the gut itself. Poor gut health breeds poor gut health–literally.
We will look here at some reasons our kids end up with damaged guts. Knowledge is power. In order to prevent problems we need to be concious of the roles of serotonin, probiotics, and diet in gut health–and of how these can be compromised in our kids.
Serotonin
The gut is where most of the neurotransmitter serotonin is manufactured. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter responsible for peristalsis. In DS, serotonin has been found to be reduced, which results in poor peristalsis and, yes, constipation. So, in order to protect the gut, you want to insure healthy levels of serotonin in your son.
Most formulas of nutritional supplementation targeted for DS include precursors for serotonin. For example, NuTriVene-D includes L-tryptophan, the amino acid required by the body to manufacture serotonin. Five-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) is a different over-the-counter supplement that feeds serotonin synthesis.
So, a first step to gut health in Down syndrome is to make sure there is plenty of serotonin.
Probiotics
After dealing with serotonin, a second step is to provide healthy probiotic bacteria to populate the gut wall. Until the last century food preservation and storage involved extensive use of cultured foods. Sauerkraut used to be cultured. Cheese was made with bacteria. Apple cider was cultured into hard cider and vinegar. Every people in the world had ancient food preservation techniques which involved foods filled with friendly bacteria. When a new baby was given these native foods, the baby’s gut received its starter cultures for a lifetime of health.
Nowadays, our foods are sterile. Cheese, cider, sauerkraut and other traditionally cultured foods are pasteurized before sale. Unless we are intentional about it, friendly microbes may may be introduced late or never to our babies’ guts. If I had it to do over again, I would have begun giving my daughter probiotics, sprinkled on her tongue, from her first days of life.
The widespread use of antibiotics is also causing problems. Babies with DS can expect to receive multiple courses of antibiotics in the first years of life. These drugs are not specific; they kill both friendly and unfriendly bacteria. However, they do not kill yeast. This leaves the unfriendly yeast with no resistance to moving in and taking over.
The result of yeast overgrowth can be lesions along the wall of the colon. Through these lesions, partially digested food escapes into the bloodstream, leading to a host of illnesses and allergic reactions.
So, the second step to keeping the gut healthy in DS is to provide plenty of probiotic foods and supplements, and to limit the use of antibiotics. If you must use antibiotics, follow immediately with a course of probiotic supplementation.
Diet
The third step to keep the gut healthy is to keep unhealthy yeast and bacteria from taking over. To keep the bad guys away, or to fight them back if they already control the terrain, diet will take a central role.
Realize that yeast feeds on sugars (simple sugars and disaccharides), and partially digested starches. Any serious plan to improve gut health in a child with DS will involve eliminating sugars and refined starches from the diet.
If I had it to do over again, I would not have ever fed my daughter foods containing sugar.
For more information on gut-healthy diets, expecially about how to reverse gut dysbiosis, listen to the downloadable lectures by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride part1 6203.mp3 and part2 6219.mp3. Dr. Campbell-McBride wrote the heavily researched book Gut and Psychology Syndrome
Further, and far more complete information on gut-healthy diets can be found at Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride’s website, and http://www.gapsdiet.com.
The long term plan for gut health in a child with Down syndrome will involve careful attention to a probiotic friendly diet.
An Unhealthy Gut is Bad News
Lest you think that gut problems are a minor inconvenience, or that constipation is the only conquence, realize that our nutrition comes from our guts. A child’s unhealthy gut is not absorbing the nutrition in the child’s food. An infected gut is releasing toxins into the bloodstream. Further, unhealthy, inflamed guts are linked to quirky behaviors and psychological disorders from ADD to autism.
Vaccines
There is a growing body of information to suggest that a healthy gut is protective against adverse reactions to vaccines. In the climate of controversy which surrounds vaccines, it is hard to have an unemotional discussion. However, knowing this gut connection gives parents from both sides of the issue something concrete to do to protect our children: get our kids’ guts healthy and keep them that way.
Filed under: autism, diet, Down Syndrome, gut, nutrition, vaccines Tagged: | autism, colon, constipation, diarrhea, Down Syndrome, vaccines
Hello there,
Thanks for visiting DSNM and leading me to your blog. Wow, I could spend a long time here… many cups of tea… reading and thinking. Thank you for sharing all this great information!
*in tears* Thank you for the invaluable information! I have an11-month old with DS and because of the constipation (once a week BM’s), 90% of his diet is still breastmilk. I will go to the health food store right away to purchase the products noted. Thank you again!
I have a grandaughter (9 weeks old) with DS who has had alot of really runny stool with mucous for 3 weeks now. She is just breastfed. My daughter tried soy formula (doctors advice) and not only had diarrhea but vomiting too. So now its just breastmilk again. They told my daughter to cut out all dairy from her diet. She has but it is still going on. My grandbaby only weighs 8 lb. 11 oz. at 9 weeks too. That concerns me alot.
Thanks,
Debbie Burke
Debbie,
It takes two weeks for dairy to leave the system-Mom and baby both. If the baby had any antibiotics, medications, etc. in addition to the soy formula, then these can all mess with baby’s gut and cause trouble. Good probiotics can help (I give my newborns them in addition to breastfeeding exclusively). Other allergies can be causing trouble- soy seems a likely culprit, gluten (celiac is VERY COMMON in our kids with DS and can cause failure to thrive/gain and also blood in stools). I would rule out food allergies in mom’s milk before considering a milk protein allergy, which IS VERY RARE. Breastmilk is very much needed- it has AT LEAST THREE kinds of stem cells, antiviral/antiobacterial live cells/properties not replicable- there are over 200 things found in breastmilk that cannot be made in a lab- baby needs human milk, and especially a baby with DS.
Even one formula feeding can cause damage to the sensitive baby’s gut. Many typically developing babies have immature intestinal tracts- I’d guess that most babies with DS have VERY sensitive guts and need time to let them mature.
I’d advise mom to cut all gluten from her diet and dairy- careful with ingredient lists because gluten is in so many things. I’d also advise her to keep a food journal of everything she eats (a small notepad with notes- ate nature’s own granola bar 2:15 am etc.) and that way Mom can track when baby is fussy and if baby reacts to certain things more then others.
She can contact her local La Leche League for free phone counseling and also a free support meeting- they usually have them at least once a month.
HTH,
Sarah B.
Hi Debbie. A shoestring relative has been having some issues with a very young baby for it’s whole life. I think he’s about three mos. now. She tried a formula too and it was a mess. But breastfeeding “seemed” to be a problem too. She cut out wheat first and that helped some but when she cut out dairy it helped even more. The problems aren’t all gone… but the situation is much improved with the breastfeeding. She is starting to introduce a good probiotic now.
So the suggestion would be for the mom to not only cut out dairy (and watch for hidden dairy) but to also cut out wheat and perhaps all or most grains. She could check out the GAPS Diet for a list of what might be good to eat for now?? http://www.gapsdiet.com And she herself could take some good probiotics and perhaps it would be okay to use some liquid probiotic with the baby. I would check with a naturopathic doctor or someone familiar with using probiotics with small infants. If I had to guess I would think it would be okay if it’s slow and gentle and a probiotic without a bunch of coloring and flavoring added.
I might look into Linda Sherman’s oils http://www.heritageessentialoils.com and I wonder if some King Method http://www.kinginstitute.org/tkmr-/tkmr.html could be of help toward healing.
I will pray. God is #1 of course. He knows all and is full of love for them. We can ask for healing and wisdom and mercy. Blessings and Hugs, Ali (grandma to Lilyenne and Madelyne and mom to Jack with Downs) XOXOXO
PS – at the GAPS website if you touch on the “outline” “introduction” and “full GAPS diet” links you’ll find good info..
Hi Debbie…. just wanted to ask where you live if you don’t mind. I’m in No. IL. I know of a good naturopath near us who’s not expensive. But if you’re not near me…. someone on the Einstein List might know of someone in your area. This is the person in our area….
http://www.drjuliasinn.net
I was reading the info. above from Miriam and just wanted to post a comment on vaccines.
In our case, our son with Down Syndrome did react to vaccines. At first we and the doctors didn’t catch on that he was reacting…. the symptoms weren’t typical but they were harmful (regressions, digestive issues). But he had a terrible reaction to the 12 mos. vaccs and a flu shot. First he caught the measles from the MMR. He survived that by God’s grace and love (the measles comes with a whopping lung infection). Then we watched as he gradually slid into full blown autism. The incidence of autism is higher in the DS community than in the gen. population. Thank God we’ve been able to recover him partway. And we know that He is healed by God and are watching this be manifested.
I believe that some people are genetically predisposed to react to vaccine toxins more. They have a genetic weakness that makes it so that they don’t handle vaccines very well. Diet and a healthy living (emotional etc.) environment certainly can help to prevent some damage. To learn more of the risks of vaccinating a child with DS I would encourage joining the Einstein List and looking at the info. in the archives.
Vaccines pose quite an assault on the body. This includes the digestive tract and the brain. Many parents are no longer vaccinating and some are still vaccinating but in a more “spread out” or spaced fashion and they are sometimes insisting on less vaccines. We are in the no vaccine category but each parent has to research and choose. Once you put the vaccine in the body… you can’t just easily remove the ingredients. A child already experiencing challenges needs to be protected and healed… thanks for letting me share my thoughts. Ali :0)
We are near Buffalo, NY. Can you help?
thanks.
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
The first thing I would look at would be the mother’s diet. We wouldn’t stop breastfeeding, as that is so good for the baby
. But, it would be good if mom could cut out the common food allergies – wheat (gluten specifically), dairy, chocolate, & soy. You may consider cutting out corn as well as that is another common allergy. But, that is in so many food products, it may be easier to start with the above allergens and then work up to it if nothing changes.
The other may want to start taking probiotics (dairy free) or giving a dairy-free probiotic to the baby to help with her gut.
I hope this helps some and feel free to email with any questions. My family has a lot of food allergies so we’re quite familiar with this
.
Qadoshyah
http://gotdownsyndrome.blogspot.com
qf (at) gotdownsyndrome (dot) net
Thanks for your input. She has cut out alot from her diet already and it still continues. We are taking the baby on Monday to a pediatric gasto doctor. Something has to get found out. She can’t continue to have this problem. I just pray it isn’t something really serious.
Thanks for the input.