The Autism Research Unit is based at the Department of Pharmacy, Health & Well-being at the University of Sunderland.
Theirprimary research aims include:
- Analysis of biological entities that could provide insight into any underlying metabolic abnormalities.
- Examination of the use of gluten and/or casein-free diets for people with autism and associated spectral conditions.
- Examination of the use of essential fatty acid suplementation for people with autism and associated spectral conditions.
- The application of data mining techniques in order to identify relevant behavioral and somatic symptoms linked to autism.
- Biological and genomic analysis of the contribution of the ‘environment’ to autism and associated spectral conditions.
The Autism Research Unit has recently began to offer urinary profiling of people with Autism.
The research undertaken at the Autism Research Unit (ARU) subscribes to the theory that autism is a consequence of a metabolic disorder, whereby certain biologically active “peptides” and other related compounds (derived mainly but not exclusively from dietary gluten and/or casein) are not metabolised correctly.
These compounds, together with the additional problem of abnormal permeability of the gastrointestinal membrane, are present in much greater quantities than would normally be expected and may subsequently be able to exert an effect that interferes with normal neural processes.
The presence of these compounds in the blood would mean that they would tend to be collected in the kidneys and then excreted in urine.
Hence, the content of urine would be to some extent, be reflective of the content of the blood. It should be noted that this process is not thought to involve a classical allergy (IgE) type mechanism [read more here].
Various analytical methods for detecting, and to some extent determining, these compounds in the urine are available today.One of the most popular methods is HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). HPLC uses a liquid mobile phase to separate the compounds of a mixture. Mixtures (samples) are first dissolved in a solvent, and then forced to flow through a chromatographic column under high pressure. Inside the column, the mixture is separated into its components, as it passes [elutes] down the column. Positioned immediately after the column is a detector, which emits a response as a function of the components of the sample passing through it. There are several types of detector used for this purpose; the one currently used in this analysis is a ultra-violet (UV) detector. A UV detector measures the ability of a sample to absorb UV light. The majority of organic compounds can be analysed using this kind of detector. Depending on time taken for the compound to elute through the column, and the ability of a compound to absorb UV radiation, we are provided with data about the type of compound being detected and a general idea of how much of the compound is present (see published references for HPLC protocols).
Further, more detailed information about HPLC, can be at the following websites:
Some of our families are undetaking this profiling, therefore we will shall try and offer some feedback later in the year.
Sarah Needham
Director of I.T.S &
Speech and Language Therapist
September 2009
