Special Needs Children and their Immune System: What Parents Should Know
Researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute found that many children with special needs may have both weaker immune systems and imbalances in gut bacteria.
What Does the Immune System Do?
Think of the immune system as your child’s built-in defense team. It:
* Identifies and fights off germs (like colds, flu, and stomach bugs).
* Builds a memory so it can fight those germs faster next time.
* Keeps its “weapons” focused on invaders — not the child’s own body.
When the Immune System Struggles
Sometimes, the immune system doesn’t work as it should. This can look like:
*Weak defense: Frequent colds, ear infections, or stomach bugs.
*Allergies: Overreacting to things like pollen, dust, or certain foods.
*Autoimmunity: Mistakenly attacking the body (for example, thyroid problems).
*Too much inflammation: Healthy tissue gets damaged while fighting germs.
What This Means for Special Needs Children
Studies show that some children:
* Get sick more often than their peers.
* Have unusual allergy-like symptoms (eczema, asthma, constant runny nose).
* Show differences in immune cells and antibodies compared to other children.
* Come from families with a history of autoimmune conditions like arthritis or thyroid disease.
Antibodies: The Body’s Germ-Fighters
Antibodies are proteins the body makes to fight infections. Here’s how they work:
*IgA – Protects the nose, lungs, and gut. Low IgA = more colds, stomach problems, or even autoimmunity.
*IgM – First responder to new infections. Can be too high or too low in autism.
*IgG – Provides longer-lasting protection. May be unbalanced.
*IgE – Related to allergies. Sometimes higher in children with autism.
If your child gets repeated infections (ear, sinus, chest, or stomach), ask about an immune system check.
If your child is often sick, has ongoing allergies, or stomach issues, it’s worth asking their health care provider for an immune system and allergy evaluation.
Why This Matters
Researchers don’t yet know if fixing immune system problems will directly improve special need children's symptoms, but it’s clear that:
* Immune issues are more common in children with autism.
* Treating these issues (infections, allergies, gut problems) can improve overall health and quality of life.
Signs the Immune System is Struggling
* Frequent colds, ear infections, or stomach bugs
* Constant runny nose, sneezing, or asthma
* Eczema or skin rashes
* Ongoing gut issues (diarrhea, constipation, bloating)
* Family history of autoimmune disease (arthritis, thyroid, etc.)
Healthy immune support = healthier kids, better quality of life.
What can you do to improve your child's immune health?
Metabolism and Immunity
Immune System Health Benefits of Camel Milk
What is the Research on Nutrition and Special Needs Children
Studies done have suggested that nutrition may play a role not only in the causes of Special Needs but also in reducing its symptoms. This review looked at current nutrition-based treatments for Special Needs and examined how they affect symptoms, using scientific evidence from recent research.
Researchers also reviewed articles from databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and EBSCO that focused on nutrition and the special needs condition.
Key Findings
- Certain diets and foods may help reduce symptoms, including:
- Gluten-free/casein-free diets
- Ketogenic diets
- Camel milk
- Curcumin (a compound in turmeric)
- Probiotics and fermented foods
- Some foods and substances may worsen symptoms, such as:
- Sugar
- Food additives
- Pesticides
- Genetically modified foods
- Highly processed foods
- Hard-to-digest starches
The studies concluded that nutrition shows promise in helping with Special Needs. This review highlights the importance of exploring nutrition as part of the treatment and encourages further research to better understand the connection.
Research: Efficacy of camel milk consumption for improving symptoms in special needs children
Camel milk has emerged as a potential complementary therapy for Special Needs children.
A study aimed to gather evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of camel milk consumption in improving symptoms and associated measures in children.
It was found that raw camel milk intake led to improvements in various social behaviors. Camel milk consumption resulted in increased levels of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory biomarkers, It was concluded that Camel milk shows promise in improving social behaviors and certain biochemical markers in these children.
As children with Special Needs often prefer to consume only a limited number of foods, a dietary supplement, such as the TEKNON Protocol, can be helpful in having your child consume the nutrition needed to balance their gut, optimize their metabolism, and strengthen their immune system.
Camel milk, the main ingredient offers a powerful nutritional boost. It is a food. It’s rich in protein and contains natural antibacterial and antiviral compounds, antioxidants, and immune-supporting nutrients. It also provides essential vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, which play a key role in metabolic function.
Teknon was developed specifically to support the metabolism of Special Needs children. The Teknon Protocol combines targeted nutrition with evidence-based strategies to strengthen metabolic function
See: Understand the Teknon Protocol
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26767108/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40158118/
Also search www.Pubmed.gov
The Connection Between Fiber and Cholesterol
Many individuals can significantly lower their cholesterol by eating lots of high fiber foods.
As a result, after talking with their doctor, they may be able to reduce their cholesterol medications or stop taking them altogether.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that blood sugar levels were reduced by 8.9 percent on a high fiber diet. It also lowered cholesterol and triglycerides. Read a study here.
Fiber comes from the cell walls of plants. Additionally, fiber and water work together to keep the bowels regular.
Below are lists of low-carb foods that are also high in fiber, along with the approximate number of grams of fiber they contain.
The fiber content shown is for a quantity of 1/2 cup.
Low-Carb Fruits
Blackberries, 4.9 grams
Avocado, 3.8 grams
Medium-sized Apple, 3.6 grams
Raspberries, 2.6 grams
Blueberries, 2.1 grams
Cherries, 1.5 grams
Strawberries, 1.4 grams
Low-Carb Vegetables
Brussels Sprouts, 3.1 grams
Broccoli, 2.7 grams
Greens, cooked, 2-4 grams (beet greens, collards, kale, spinach, and turnip greens)
Mushrooms, canned, 2.0 grams
Green Beans, 1.4 - 2 grams (broad beans, pole beans, and snap beans)
Asparagus, 1.8 grams
Okra, 1.6 grams
Zucchini, 1.3 grams
Yellow Summer Squash, 1.3 grams
Cauliflower, 1.4 grams
Onions, 1.3 grams
Celery, 1.1 grams
Peppers, 1.1 grams
Including more of the above foods in your diet will help in lowering cholesterol levels.
You should make changes to your diet to include more high fiber foods, and do it gradually. Just add a few grams at a time so that your digestive system can adjust.
It's best to adjust the amount of fiber in your diet over several weeks. This prevents problems with stomach-aches, bloating, gas, and diarrhea.
Start adding more fiber to your meals today!
For more read Cholesterol, what does it mean?
Overcoming the Barriers to Study
Any person’s future success and happiness are dependent on his ability to learn.
Innately, this ability is very strong. Children possess an almost boundless fascination about everything in life.
We welcome you to look through these pages and discover for yourself the effective tools available to help you, your child, or someone you know who has had difficulty in school, and perhaps still struggles when trying to learn something new.
Overcoming the Barriers to Study Booklet (able.org)
