Claims Data Fail to Support Thimerosal-Autism Link

[HuckleB]

Source: medpage today

Yet another study -- this one analyzing insurance claims data and other records for children with autism spectrum disorders -- showed that exposure to thimerosal, either prenatally or after birth, did not increase the risk of autism, researchers said.

The case-control study, of 256 children with autism spectrum disorders and 752 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, found that higher-than-average exposures to ethylmercury were, if anything, less common in kids with autism compared with healthy kids, reported Frank DeStefano, MD, MPH, of the CDC's Immunization Safety Office in Atlanta, and colleagues.

The study of thimerosal exposures, conducted among children belonging to three managed care organizations, was published in the journal Pediatrics. It was the latest of a number of studies that found no link between thimerosal and autism.

...

Noting that increased ethylmercury exposure in the two longer postnatal periods actually appeared to decrease the risk of three autism spectrum disorder outcomes, DeStefano and colleagues wrote that they were "not aware of a biological mechanism that would lead to this result."

Read more: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Autism/22131

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I don't know what I could say that needs to be said.

[pnwmom]

1. Very true, it doesn't for the population as a WHOLE.

But the jury is still out on the risk for children who are genetically at risk due to one condition or another. And it is unclear whether there have already been other Hannah Polings -- see the article at the second link.

By the way, I realize that thimerosol might not be the particular cause of Hannah's injury or that of the other children. It might have been thimerosol, various adjuvants, too many vaccines at once -- we'll probably never know.

But why the need to justify thimerosol? As long as there is any question, why inject any form of mercury into a baby, when the alternative is single use bottles?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20015982-10391695.html

The first court award in a vaccine-autism claim is a big one. CBS News has learned the family of Hannah Poling will receive more than $1.5 million dollars for her life care; lost earnings; and pain and suffering for the first year alone.

In addition to the first year, the family will receive more than $500,000 per year to pay for Hannah's care. Those familiar with the case believe the compensation could easily amount to $20 million over the child's lifetime.

SNIP

In acknowledging Hannah's injuries, the government said vaccines aggravated an unknown mitochondrial disorder Hannah had which didn't "cause" her autism, but "resulted" in it. It's unknown how many other children have similar undiagnosed mitochondrial disorder. All other autism "test cases" have been defeated at trial. Approximately 4,800 are awaiting disposition in federal vaccine court.

SNIP

________________________________________________________________


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/06/eveningnews/main3915703.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

While the Poling case is the first of its kind to become public, a CBS News investigation uncovered at least nine other cases as far back as 1990, where records show the court ordered the government compensated families whose children developed autism or autistic-like symptoms in children including toddlers who had been called "very smart" and "impressed" doctors with their "intelligence and curiosity" … until their vaccinations.

They were children just like Hannah Poling.

What's still being debated is whether the Poling case is an exception ... or a precedent.

[TheMadMonk]

3. It's not about justifying thiomerserol. It's not letting unjustifiable claims...

...to stand unopposed.

[Bearware]

2. The real cause is serious population wide vitamin D deficiency

Thimerosol may cause a few cases of ASD but is a Red Herring distraction from the primary cause. Many/most Autism cases are due to immune system stimulation caused either by a vaccine or a substantial viral or other infection in individuals that are vitamin D deficient. The resulting Autism is an autoimmune disease that can be changed by immunosuppression. Once someone has autoimmune Autism raising their vitamin D value to an optimal level will not reverse the disease but may reduce some of the symptoms.

How can I make that claim? Autism cases immediately following vaccines are most common in situations where there recipient is most likely to be vitamin D deficient. It is more common in winter, at higher latitudes, in children with darker skin, when public policy recommends sun avoidance and sunscreen etc. etc.

The following link discusses Autism and vitamin D in detail: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health/autism/autism-information.shtml

Something like 50% of the US population is vitamin D deficient. Selected groups such as the disabled who have restricted access to the sun can have an 80% deficiency rate. The current RDI for vitamin D is 400 IU. Vitamin D researchers as a group are recommending about 10 times that much (5000 IU per day of vitamin D3).

There are epidemics of virtually all the autoimmune diseases similar to what is observed with Autism. Juvenile Diabetes is undergoing a rapid increase in most western countries for the same reason Autism is. Vitamin D deficiency which prevents the immune system from eliminating strongly self-reactive immune cells - thus allowing an autoimmune disease to start.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pnwmom]

7. That would explain why some Somali refugees have had such high

rates of autism in northern states here, but not in Somalia.

[rucky]

13. Thanks for the link

I think this information could convince my wife to get our daughter vaccinated.

I searched around some more on the website and plan to order a home test kit.

[Devil_Fish]

24. Thimorosol has not been used in vaccinations since they went to single use needles. NT

[Demeter]

4. Autistic Spectrum Disorders are Genetic and Heritable

That is, it tends to run in the family. It is characterized by abnormal development of the nervous system, from the primitive brain outward. Those genes that produce great engineers or lawyers can, if oversupplied, produce AI children.

Vitamin D deficiency has no merit as either a cause or an effect nor do supplements a cure, nor any other nutrient. Exposure to toxins is unproven (such as superfund sites), although some may in fact be mutagenic. We don't know, and the government really doesn't want to find out, because of the liability issues.

That said, there still is no reason for such dreadfully antique immunization formulations as including mercury. Modern medicine can provide cleaner and purer protections.

[pnwmom]

8. And so are mitochondrial disorders, which can be triggered by vaccines.

There needs to be continuing research on which subsets of the population may be at an increased risk for a reaction to certain vaccines or their ingredients.
Interesting that there has been a flurry of reporting on the seeming safety of ALL vaccines for ALL children, just when the Hannah Poling judgment has finally been made public.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20015982-10391695...

The first court award in a vaccine-autism claim is a big one. CBS News has learned the family of Hannah Poling will receive more than $1.5 million dollars for her life care; lost earnings; and pain and suffering for the first year alone.

In addition to the first year, the family will receive more than $500,000 per year to pay for Hannah's care. Those familiar with the case believe the compensation could easily amount to $20 million over the child's lifetime.

SNIP

In acknowledging Hannah's injuries, the government said vaccines aggravated an unknown mitochondrial disorder Hannah had which didn't "cause" her autism, but "resulted" in it. It's unknown how many other children have similar undiagnosed mitochondrial disorder. All other autism "test cases" have been defeated at trial. Approximately 4,800 are awaiting disposition in federal vaccine court.

SNIP

________________________________________________________________


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/06/eveningnews/m... ;contentBody

While the Poling case is the first of its kind to become public, a CBS News investigation uncovered at least nine other cases as far back as 1990, where records show the court ordered the government compensated families whose children developed autism or autistic-like symptoms in children including toddlers who had been called "very smart" and "impressed" doctors with their "intelligence and curiosity" … until their vaccinations.

They were children just like Hannah Poling.

What's still being debated is whether the Poling case is an exception ... or a precedent.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HuckleB]

19. This piece, as well as the links in the piece, is much more accurate in their coverage of the issue.

http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2010/09/sharyl-attkisson-blogs-the-hannah-poling-settlement/

[HuckleB]

9. Yup.

It's amazing to see some hang their hats on a single case, or on the vitamin D obsession, when the evidence is overwhelmingly against those rants.

[lumberjack_jeff]

23. It is also increasing in frequency

... at a greater rate than can be explained by awareness and changing diagnoses.

It's incumbent on those that believe that genetics explains the whole story to reconcile the idea of a genetic epidemic.

[HuckleB]

25. Maybe. Maybe not.

Study finds no evidence of autism surge in children
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6844270.ece

The Increase in Autism Diagnoses: Two Hypotheses
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=95

Autism epidemic? What autism epidemic?
http://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2006/04/autism_epidemic.html

Three Reasons Not To Believe In An Autism Epidemic
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/06/050630055730.htm

[xchrom]

5. Recommend

[HuckleB]

18. Thank you.

[HuckleB]

10. The Long Awaited CDC Trial on Thimerosal and Autism

http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=2294

[HuckleB]

11. Questions and answers with the thimerosal-autism study author

http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2010/09/questions-and-answers-with-the-thimerosal-autism-study-author/

Interesting stuff.

[Odin2005]

12. K&R +1,000,000,000,000

[HuckleB]

15. Thanks!

[Crowman1979]

16. But, but, but Alex Jones said?!?!?.............

.....something crazy! :silly: :crazy:

[HuckleB]

17. Is that the guy who moved to Ecuador?

[Crowman1979]

20. No, he's still screaming like a madman on the radio every day.

unfortunately

[La Lioness Priyanka]

21. the headline should have said, "Claims Data Fail to Support Thimerosal-Autism Link for the nth time"

there was another study to this effect a few months ago

[HuckleB]

22. Absolutely.