Comprehensive Nutritional and Dietary Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder—A Randomized, Controlled 12-Month Trial

Abstract

This study involved a randomized, controlled, single-blind 12-month treatment study of a comprehensive nutritional and dietary intervention. Participants were 67 children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ages 3–58 years from Arizona and 50 non-sibling neurotypical controls of similar age and gender. Treatment began with a special vitamin/mineral supplement, and additional treatments were added sequentially, including essential fatty acids, Epsom salt baths, carnitine, digestive enzymes, and a healthy gluten-free, casein-free, soy-free (HGCSF) diet. There was a significant improvement in nonverbal intellectual ability in the treatment group compared to the non-treatment group (+6.7 ± 11 IQ points vs. −0.6 ± 11 IQ points, p = 0.009) based on a blinded clinical assessment. Based on semi-blinded assessment, the treatment group, compared to the non-treatment group, had significantly greater improvement in autism symptoms and developmental age. The treatment group had significantly greater increases in EPA, DHA, carnitine, and vitamins A, B2, B5, B6, B12, folic acid, and Coenzyme Q10. The positive results of this study suggest that a comprehensive nutritional and dietary intervention is effective at improving nutritional status, non-verbal IQ, autism symptoms, and other symptoms in most individuals with ASD. Parents reported that the vitamin/mineral supplements, essential fatty acids, and HGCSF diet were the most beneficial.

Longitudinal Epidemiological Study of Autism Subgroups Using Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) Score

“…While it is difficult to speculate on the reason for this disparity between developed English-speaking countries and non-English-speaking countries, it is notable that child treatment is more often outsourced in the developed English-speaking countries compared to more traditional societies where grandparents are more commonly available and mother is more likely to stay at home to personally take care of a child (Fetterolf, 2017). Other factors, such as differences in diet (Adams et al, 2018;Rubenstein et al, 2018), reliance on technology (Dunn et al, 2017;Grynszpan, Weiss, Perez-Diaz, & Gal, 2014;Lorah et al, 2013;Odom et al, 2015;Ploog, Scharf, Nelson, & Brooks, 2013) and prescription medications (Lemmon, Gregas, & Jeste, 2011) could also play a role.…”

Altered Metabolism of Mothers of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Control Study

“…Similarly, the results of this study suggest that low levels of maternal carnitine may be correlated with the likelihood of having had a child later diagnosed with ASD. Previous studies have demonstrated that carnitine supplementation is beneficial for children with ASD (32)(33)(34). It is important to note that the results for this pilot study are for maternal levels post-pregnancy, so they are only suggestive of possible nutritional and metabolic differences during pregnancy.…”

Altered Metabolism of Mothers of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Control Study

“…Similarly, the results of this study suggest that low levels of maternal carnitine may be correlated with the likelihood of having had a child later diagnosed with ASD. Previous studies have demonstrated that carnitine supplementation is beneficial for children with ASD (38)(39)(40). It is important to note that the results for this pilot study are for maternal levels post-pregnancy, so they are only suggestive of possible nutritional and metabolic differences during pregnancy.…”