Yeast is a common ingredient in many vaccines. A simple search on the CDC website for “vaccine yeast ingredient,” and you’ll get almost 80 results. While most experts, including the Mayo Clinic, are quick to point out that there is no link between autism and vaccines, that hasn’t stopped some medical researchers and professionals from drawing an unsubstantiated link.
Candida Yeast
According to Henry Butt, M.D. of the University of Melbourne, a person’s general health depends largely on how well his or her body is able to absorb the byproducts of naturally present “gut flora.” Changes to our internal physical environment, especially persistent ones, can cause a variety of gastro-intestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea or abdominal distention. Patients with autism seem to be prone to such GI issues, which may be caused by an overabundance of yeast. According to some schools of thought, elevated yeast levels can cause a variety of autism-like symptoms, including increased sensory defensiveness, inappropriate laughter, and inattention. To date, however, there has been no proof that an elevated yeast level actually causes autism, and the etiology of autism remains unknown.
Ultimately, what Dr. Butt’s research shows is that while we are not yet able to pinpoint the causes of autism, we are reaching a point where we are able to ascertain whether or not secondary treatments, such as diet modification, are able to lessen some of the symptoms associated with autism. By additional outside factors that contribute to autism-like behaviors, we will perhaps be one step closer to finding the ultimate cause of this very prevalent disease.
An abstract of the lecture he presented at the 2011 ARMS Global Autism Conference can be found in HERE.
For more information on the validity of dietary changes and their effect on autism, please see the Mayo Clinic articles on autism and candida cleanse diets.
