Treating Autism with Vitamin B9

Folic Acid or Folate Supplements for Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Jun 14, 2008
Jennifer Copley

Vitamin B - Jennifer Copley

There is significant anecdotal evidence that vitamin B9, also known as folate, folic acid or folinic acid, provides benefits for some children with autism.

Vitamin B9, also known as folate, is critical to healthy brain function. Folic acid, a synthetic B9 derivative, occurs in fortified foods and supplements. Folinic acid, also a derivative product, is converted more rapidly into a specific type of folate that can be directly transported to the brain.

It is folinic acid that can be used to increase glutathione (an antioxidant) in the brains of autistic children, as well as increasing the level of the dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in autistic spectrum disorders. However, folic acid also appears to provide benefits for many autistic children.

Function of Folate

Folate is critical to cell production and maintenance, particularly at times when the body is growing fast such as pregnancy, infancy, and adolescence. It also helps to prevent DNA changes that can lead to cancer.

B9’s importance can be seen in the fact that folic acid supplements taken during pregnancy can reduce the incidence of neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly by up to 75% (Civista Health, 2011). Also, the incidence of neural tube defects decreased by 36% in the U.S. after the practice of fortifying grains with folic acid was widely adopted and media campaigns educated the public on the need for supplementation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19 May 2011).

Some people believe that those with autism are deficient in folate, and that this triggers certain autistic symptoms, such as communication difficulties and social problems.

Sources of Folate

Folate is found naturally in dark leafy greens such as spinach, as well as beets, turnips, lima beans, kidney beans, mung beans, white beans, soybeans, Brussels sprouts, beef liver, root vegetables, brewer’s yeast, whole grains, bulgar wheat, wheat germ, oysters, salmon, avocados, milk, and orange juice.

B9 is also available as a supplement, either on its own or as part of a multivitamin. When taking B9 as a supplement, it's best to choose a multivitamin that contains the other B vitamins as well, as these are necessary for folate activation. Methyl B12 is particularly beneficial in conjunction with folate, and folate is more effective when taken with vitamin C (Autism Canada Foundation, 2011).

Efficacy in Treating Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Evidence for the efficacy of B9 is largely anecdotal, though French researcher Jerome Lejeune found that 250 mcg per pound of body weight daily generated significant improvement in some autistic children (Gerlach, 2003).

Of the Autism Research Institute’s 1,955 parent reviews of the use of folic acid supplements for autism, 43% saw improvements, 53% found no effect, and 4% said that their children grew worse. Using folic acid to treat Asperger's syndrome generated similar results, with 48% seeing improvements, 44% no effect, and 8% saying that symptoms worsened.

In addition to providing protection against a number of diseases such as cancer, folate may be useful in treating conditions that often occur in conjunction with autistic spectrum disorders such as depression. Those with depression are more inclined to have low folate levels, and a number of studies have suggested that taking a folic acid supplement may reduce depressive symptoms in some people (Jorm et al. 2002).

Side effects

At normal doses, side effects are rare. However, large doses may cause sleep problems, seizures, skin reactions, and stomach problems, and vitamin B9 can also interact with certain medications.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be taken as medical advice. If you are interested in using vitamin and mineral supplements to treat autism, depression, or other conditions, you should consult your family physician to establish safe dosing.