Up until now, the only recourse has been to exclude these exorphin-generating foods from the diet. However, the problems is that it is not only gluten-containing and dairy foods that generate exorphins—meat and even some vegetables also generate exorphins.

This is why Pharmax has developed HLC MindLinx—a completely new type of probiotic that combines the original HLC High Potency product with tow new strains that can break down these damaging exorphins in the gut...before they can be absorbed!

Figure 1: Breakdown of milk B-caseomorphin-7 by selected HLC lactic acid bacteria

Figure 2: Breakdown of wheat exorphin-A5 by selected HLC lactic acid bacteria

Figure 3: Effect of 21 days supplementations of HLC MindLinx on urinary excretion of opioid peptide exorphin B5 in six normal adult subjects.>

Subjects were provided with a meal of bread and milk and urinary exorphin measured over the next 10 hours. Subjects took MindLinx for 21 days before being offered the same meal of bread and milk. The difference in the 'before' and 'after' urinary exorphin profiles are clear.

Note: For further detailed reading, see Pharmax Technical Monograph entitled 'Intestinal Effects on Autism and ADHD—Potential for a Novel Probiotic Approach'.

Who would benefit?

What is L-Glutamine and why is it in HLC Mindlinx?

Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid produced in the body. It is produced primarily in skeletal muscle and then released into the circulation. Tissues that require glutamine such as the immune system, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and liver obtain glutamine as needed from the blood. Glutamine is essential for maintaining intestinal function, immune response, and amino acid homeostasis during times of severe stress, suggesting that it is more appropriately called a "conditionally essential amino acid".

Glutamine can enhance the function of stimulated immune cells. It seems to affect lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production, bacterial killing by neutrophils, and phagocytic and secretory activities of macrophages. Glutamine also functions as a precursor for other amino acids, glucose, purines and pyrimidines, glutathione, and glutamate, which the body makes. During physical stress the body consumes more glutamine than the skeletal muscle can produce. Progressive muscle breakdown (wasting) can occur as the body tries to meet glutamine requirements.

The intestinal mucosa can also synthesize glutamine, but not enough to compensate for the body's needs during severe physiologic stress. There is some evidence suggesting that glutamine, in addition to serving as a metabolic fuel for enterocytes (intestinal cells), might play a regulatory role in the intestine, affecting cell proliferation and differentiation. The gastrointestinal tract is one of the largest utilizers of glutamine in the body. Depletion of glutamine can result in atrophy, ulceration, and necrosis of intestinal epithelium.

For these reasons, glutamine has been added to MindLinx to help improve the health of the intestinal wall and immune cell function. It can be a very helpful nutrient for those with multiple food allergies/sensitivies.

Is Glutamine safe for Children with Autism?

L-glutamine is safe for children in amounts that do not exceed 0.65 grams per kg per day in children 3 to 18 years, and the amount of glutamine in this product is well below the safe limits. We have used this product with children less than 3 years old quite often, and they do well with this probiotic. Here is a little more background on glutamine and how it is used in the body for intestinal and immune health and other functions.

Normally, toddlers and children do very well with this probiotic when given on a regular basis. We have seen only a few autistic children that did not handle the glutamine well, because glutamine can be metabolized to glutamate and ammonia, both of which might have neurological effects in people with neurological and psychiatric diseases. This has been only in a few fairly severely autistic children which had to discontinue use of this probiotic.