A shocking disorder, impacting millions worldwide, is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is a neurological disorder impacting children, families and communities, and its prevalence is still on the rise. This complex disorder presents with an array of curious symptoms and is impairing children overnight, and burdening families generationally with no confirmed known cause. This review analyzes the emerging research that explores links between “toxic overload” and key factors including consumption of animal products, cholesterol imbalances, Heavy Metal toxicity, gastrointestinal (GI) system dysfunction, parasitic infestation, immune system dynamics, gut microbiome imbalances, genetic & epigenetic connections and even its similarities to rheumatoid arthritis. Studies, including research from Harvard University, indicate increased susceptibility to cholesterol problems and abnormal lipid processing in individuals with ASD and their parents. The central dynamic in this hypothesis purports that a toxic overload, and a specific combination of factors contribute to ASD. This complex intersection is notably demonstrated within the Somali-American community, with the highest prevalence of ASD (1 in 15 - 1 in 32), who’s lifestyle also correlates with consuming a culturally high-meat, high-cholesterol diet (rich in goat, sheep, lamb, cow meat, camel, chicken, game birds and shellfish) with all of these meats being known carriers of Toxoplasma gondii and Giardia parasite implicated in ASD, suggesting that a high-fat high cholesterol diet and parasites are contributing factors. Furthermore, we discuss the ASD gastrointestinal component, impacting the microbiome and GI function, evidenced by symptoms like fatty stools, and abnormal digestion and poor assimilation of animal fats, leading to elevated blood lipid levels, cholesterol problems, and even the autoimmune component, where undigested animal fat nanoparticles sneak past the Blood Brain Barrier(BBB), and may contribute to the cerebral hypersensitivity impacting neurological function. Research suggests this storm of toxic overload is causing the immune system to react to the presence of foreign or decomposing biological material, initiating an autoimmune response that adversely attacks the brain’s neurological funcion. With this analysis, we discuss ASD looking forward to establishing the most effective interventions and providing the most effective evidence-based information to get relevant improvements for ASD. We posit the removal of animal fats, may assist in the support of normal cholesterol metabolism, along with the elimination of parasites to modulate the gut microbiome; we suggest heavy metal detoxification and reduction of the toxic load to further promote overall health and a personalized functional diet to fully nourish the body while lessening the symptoms of ASD.
