Autism (Holistic)

Uncontrolled and double-blind research shows that vitamin B6 can be helpful for autistic children. In these trials, children typically took between 3.5 mg and almost 100 mg of B6 for every 2.2 pounds of body weight, with some researchers recommending 30 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight. Although toxicity was not reported, such amounts are widely considered to have potential toxicity that can damage the nervous system; these amounts should only be administered by a doctor. One prominent researcher has suggested that vitamin B6 is better supported by research than is drug treatment in dealing with autism.

Some autistic children suffer from chronic diarrhea. In a study of children with autistic spectrum disorders and persistent diarrhea for many years, supplementing with 500 mg of glucosamine per day (spread over the morning and evening meal) for 30 days eliminated the diarrhea in five of six cases. The authors hypothesized that glucosamine worked by blocking the effect of certain dietary components on the intestinal tract.

In a double-blind trial, supplementing with L-carnitine resulted in a modest improvement in disease severity in children with autism spectrum disorders. The amount of L-carnitine used was 50 mg per kilogram of body weight per day (half in the morning and half in the evening) for three months.

In a double-blind trial, supplementation with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for 12 weeks improved symptoms of irritability in children with autism. The amount of NAC used in the study was 900 mg per day for four weeks, then 900 mg twice a day for four weeks, then 900 mg three times per day for four weeks. Another double-blind study found an improvement in irritability using smaller amounts of NAC: 600 mg per day for children weighing less than 44 pounds and 900 mg per day for children weighing 44 pounds or more. However, in a third double-blind trial, NAC in an average amount of 56 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight per day for 12 weeks was of no benefit in autistic children. Because the amounts of NAC used in these studies are relatively large and the long-term safety of this treatment has not been examined, NAC treatment of autistic children should be monitored by a doctor.

In one double-blind trial lasting ten weeks, autistic children given 1 gram vitamin C per day for each 20 pounds of body weight showed a reduction in symptom severity compared with placebo. The authors speculate that vitamin C may play a positive role because of its known effects on a hormone pathway typically disturbed in children with autism.

In a preliminary study and a follow-up double-blind study of Egyptian autistic children, daily supplementation with vitamin D for 3 to 4 months was associated with improvements in various symptoms of autism, including irritability, hyperactivity, social withdrawal, inappropriate speech, stereotypical behavior, and communication.. The amount of vitamin D given was 136 IU per pound of body weight, with a maximum of 5,000 IU per day. Since the amount of vitamin D used in the study was relatively large and could potentially cause adverse effects, this treatment should be monitored by a doctor.

Some researchers have added magnesium to vitamin B6, reporting that taking both nutrients may have better effects than taking B6 alone. The amount of magnesium—10 to 15 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight—is high enough to cause diarrhea in some people and should be administered by a doctor. Doctors will often try vitamin B6 or the combination of B6 and magnesium for at least three months to see whether these nutrients help autistic children. In a preliminary trial, one group of researchers found that relatively small daily amounts of magnesium (6 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight) and vitamin B6 (0.6 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight) improved symptoms by about 50% in children with autism or a related condition (pervasive developmental disorder).