Is Salicylates Contributing to Your Child’s Unusual Behaviour and Symptoms?

I struggled with my daughter for many years not knowing the cause for her unusual behaviour and symptoms. She reacted to breast milk, medications and many fruits and vegetables.

It surprised me that it all came down to salicylate intolerance. Is salicylates contributing to your child’s unusual behaviour and symptoms?

Does your Child Have the Following Symptoms?

• Acid reflux
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain and bloating/wind
• Cradle Cap beyond toddler years
• Dry skin
• Irritability
• Uncontrollable crying
• Defiant behaviour

How to Manage Salicylate Sensitivity in Children

Low Salicylate diet

Interests in the salicylates content of foods were first generated by Dr.Feingold who associated hyperactivity in children with salicylates and suggested that foods containing large amounts of salicylates be eliminated from the diet. Thereafter extensive research was done by Dr. Anne Ruth Swain of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia regarding Food Chemical Sensitivities. Please refer to my salicylate food guide which explains the low salicylate diet.

Follow the low list for 2 weeks and if symptom-free introduce foods from the moderate list one at a time. You will be able to identify your child’s thresh hold. If the food item cannot be tolerated and your child has a reaction to reduce the quantity. If that doesn’t work then she is unable to tolerate this particular food. You can reintroduce it after a few months.

Supplements

• Epsom salt

Epsom salt is Magnesium sulfate. It is easily absorbed through the skin.  It works very well in boosting the phenol sulphotransferase (PST)  enzyme which is the enzyme that breaks down salicylates. This can be given through body baths, foot baths or sprays. It worked well for my daughter, especially for her constipation.

• Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)

Salicylate sensitivity is caused by a blocked PST pathway (phenol sulfate-transferase). This pathway is an important detoxification pathway for phenols, which salicylates are a subset.
Ways to unblock this pathway is to take supplements like sulfur. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) supplements are available in powder, tablet and cream form. This will boost your Methionine and Cysteine amino acids.

• Toxaprevent Medi Pure tablets

The Toxaprevent Digestive range help prevent, treat and alleviate digestive conditions including heartburn (acid reflux), food intolerances, IBS and bloating by eliminating toxins from your digestive tract, whilst relieving your liver. By removing these substances, Toxaprevent helps to detoxify your gut and relieve your liver, thereby helping to maintain your health daily. I gave my daughter Toxaprevent after getting on to the Feingold program. It helped with her methylation issues and also completely got rid of her cradle cap!!

• Omega- 3

Omega 3 supplements can help control salicylate symptoms. You can include a supplement or increase omega 3 rich food in their diet.

• Vitamin C

Vitamin C is needed to help in healing and is also essential to boost your child’s immune system. However, be careful not to consume vitamin C containing bioflavonoids. The best vitamin C for salicylate sensitivity children is Calcium Ascorbate which is a buffered form of Ascorbic Acid. Vitamin C derived from natural sources such as rosehip and oranges is not suitable.

• Digestive Enzyme

Digestive enzymes work to break down foods. This enzyme action can take place at different points along the digestive path. Enzyme supplements are useful because they do this breaking down in the stomach so that partially digested food particles are not absorbed through the intestinal wall. This will take the load off your gut and help in healing the stomach lining.

Salicylates are apart of the phenol group chemical structure. Phenolic compounds have a negative effect on your body’s own amylase activities. They prevent amylase from successfully digesting carbohydrates. Partially digested food can cause a lot of problems like additional food sensitivities. Thus taking an Amylase enzyme alone or an enzyme that has a higher level of amylase will significantly help your child.

Houston Nutraceuticals has created an enzyme called “No-Fenol” which is designed specifically to target phenols.

• Dimethylglycine (DMG)

Glycine is an amino acid that affects salicylate metabolism. Excretion of salicylic acid occurs by conjugation with glycine and glucuronic acid to form salicyluric acid, salicylphenolic acid, and acylglucuronides. Thus supplementing with Dimethylglycine (DMG) could reduce the effects of salicylates.

• Glutathione

Salicylate sensitivity can deplete your supply of the antioxidant glutathione.  Glutathione helps out with salicylate metabolism by getting rid of harmful by-products of the breakdown process. It’s a potent antioxidant found in every cell of your body. Glutathione supplementation increases your body’s capacity to metabolise salicylates.

• Calcium-D-Glucarate inhibits an enzyme in your liver (B-glucuronidase) which blocks the elimination of salicylates. It favours glucuronidation, making the salicylate more water-soluble and easily excreted by your kidneys.

Desensitization

Desensitization is another treatment sometimes used. The patient is given daily doses of acetyl salicylate, and the dose is slowly increased over time. In about 80% of cases, improvements in symptoms have been reported.

I saw positive results in my daughter once switching to the Feingold diet. I have since supplemented her with fish oil, Toxaprevent, digestive enzymes and given her regular Epsom salt baths. She no longer has constipation and does not complain of abdominal pain. She is now able to tolerate certain foods in the high salicylate column as well. We have come a long way and I have seen an immense improvement in her gut health and behaviour.

Monitor Child’s Urine pH level

You can use urine strips to test the pH level in the urine. pH is a measurement of the acidic/alkaline level. The first-morning urine gives the best indication of the acidic level. Salycic acid puts pressure on the kidney and liver. If it is acidic then alkalizing it is very important.

To reduce reactions you can give your child bicarbonate soda.

Any number below 7.0 means that your urine is on the acidic side. The lower the number, the more acidic the condition. Ideally, your first-morning urine pH should be 6.5 ‐ 7.5. When your first-morning urine is neutral or just slightly acidic, this indicates that your overall cellular pH is appropriately alkaline.

• Reduce Salt in food

If you add more salt to foods that have salicylates it makes it more acidic. Sodium Chloride is very acidic. Reducing salt intake will help with your child’s symptoms.

• Drinking Water

Nowadays drinking water is full of unwanted substances. If your child is highly sensitive to chemicals it is worth considering investing in a water filter. You can put a drop of iodine in the drinking water and check the colour change with the pH level colour chart. This will give an indication of the alkalinity of your drinking water.

I have seen a significant difference in both my children once we installed an under sink water filter. Before installing the water filter my children used to complain of stomach aches just after drinking water. After installing the water filter they are able to drink water without affecting them and they also say it tastes much better!

• Personal Care Products

Salicylates are readily absorbed through the skin. It is very important to take a look at the ingredients in your child’s toothpaste, shampoos, moisturizing creams, hand sanitizers and sun cream. As well as other household items such as air fresheners and laundry liquid.  Look into the ingredients and ensure they are low in salicylates.

By following the above suggestions you will be able to significantly reduce your child’s symptoms.

If you or your child is struggling with food intolerances, allergies, SIBO or other digestive problems, there are products that can help with symptom relief. I know it can be frustrating but there are treatment protocols and supplements which can really help.

I have designed this product guide to equip you with the best and most effective supplements you can buy for treatment as well as symptom relief. This list has been compiled through my own experience as well as working together with trusted and experienced practitioners.

You can check out my recommended supplement guide here.