As we have discussed before, children with autism may have high levels of antibodies against folic acid receptors that will prevent the entrance of adequate levels of the active form of folic acid to the brain. Without healthy levels of folic acid in the brain, detrimental effects like lack of attention and focus, with low verbal communication, may be present in children on the spectrum.
The supplementation of reduced folates like folinic acid or methyl folate may have beneficial effects in children with autism.
This clinical trial was performed by Emeline Renard and other researchers in France and published in May 2020. The children received folinic acid for twelve weeks at a much lower dose than previous clinical trials. Still, folinic acid showed a clear clinical benefit by lowering symptoms of autism, including social interaction and communication.
In this clinical trial, antibodies against folic acid were positive in 60% of the children with autism, which is higher when compared to those who were non-autistic (10%).
It is becoming evident that children with autism are severely depleted of essential nutrients for a healthy brain function, and it will require healthy nutrition for better thinking, focus, and increasing verbal communication.
As a parent of a child with autism, nutrition has been a difference-maker in my son's transformation from a severe child with autism with symptoms like aggression, self-injury behavior, and lack of verbal communication to a child doing great in school and playing many sports.
There is so much potential inside of them, but it is hidden under a lot of body imbalances. As you correct these issues like inflammation, they will start to do better.
"Be the Difference That You Want
to See in the World."
M. Gandhi
References:
Frye, R. E., & Rossignol, D. A. (2011). Cerebral Folate Deficiency in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism Sci. Dig. J. Autsmone.
Frye, R. E., Sequeira, J. M., Quadros, E. V., James, S. J., & Rossignol, D. A. (2013). Cerebral folate receptor autoantibodies in autism spectrum disorder. Molecular Psychiatry, 18(3), 369-381.
Frye, R. E., Slattery, J., Delhey, L., Furgerson, B., Strickland, T., Tippett, M., ... & James, S. J. (2018). Folinic acid improves verbal communication in children with autism and language impairment: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Molecular Psychiatry, 23(2), 247-256.
Renard, E., Leheup, B., Guéant-Rodriguez, R. M., Oussalah, A., Quadros, E. V., & Guéant, J. L. (2020). Folinic acid improves the score of Autism in the EFFET placebo-controlled randomized trial. Biochimie, 173, 57-61.
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