Effect of a vitamin/mineral supplement on children and adults with autism

Abstract

BackgroundVitamin/mineral supplements are among the most commonly used treatments for autism, but the research on their use for treating autism has been limited.MethodThis study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled three month vitamin/mineral treatment study. The study involved 141 children and adults with autism, and pre and post symptoms of autism were assessed. None of the participants had taken a vitamin/mineral supplement in the two months prior to the start of the study. For a subset of the participants (53 children ages 5-16) pre and post measurements of nutritional and metabolic status were also conducted.ResultsThe vitamin/mineral supplement was generally well-tolerated, and individually titrated to optimum benefit. Levels of many vitamins, minerals, and biomarkers improved/increased showing good compliance and absorption. Statistically significant improvements in metabolic status were many including: total sulfate (+17%, p = 0.001), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM; +6%, p = 0.003), reduced glutathione (+17%, p = 0.0008), ratio of oxidized glutathione to reduced glutathione (GSSG:GSH; -27%, p = 0.002), nitrotyrosine (-29%, p = 0.004), ATP (+25%, p = 0.000001), NADH (+28%, p = 0.0002), and NADPH (+30%, p = 0.001). Most of these metabolic biomarkers improved to normal or near-normal levels.The supplement group had significantly greater improvements than the placebo group on the Parental Global Impressions-Revised (PGI-R, Average Change, p = 0.008), and on the subscores for Hyperactivity (p = 0.003), Tantrumming (p = 0.009), Overall (p = 0.02), and Receptive Language (p = 0.03). For the other three assessment tools the difference between treatment group and placebo group was not statistically significant.Regression analysis revealed that the degree of improvement on the Average Change of the PGI-R was strongly associated with several biomarkers (adj. R2 = 0.61, p < 0.0005) with the initial levels of biotin and vitamin K being the most significant (p < 0.05); both biotin and vitamin K are made by beneficial intestinal flora.ConclusionsOral vitamin/mineral supplementation is beneficial in improving the nutritional and metabolic status of children with autism, including improvements in methylation, glutathione, oxidative stress, sulfation, ATP, NADH, and NADPH. The supplement group had significantly greater improvements than did the placebo group on the PGI-R Average Change. This suggests that a vitamin/mineral supplement is a reasonable adjunct therapy to consider for most children and adults with autism.Trial RegistrationClinical Trial Registration Number: NCT01225198

Is Encephalopathy a Mechanism to Renew Sulfate in Autism?

“…A placebocontrolled study involving 141 children with ASD demonstrated improvements in several sulfurrelated biomarkers, including total sulfate, adenosylmethionine, GSH, GSSG:GSH ratio, and taurine, following a vitamin/mineral supplement treatment program that specifically included methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) as a sulfur source [212], supporting the concept of sulfur deficiency in association with ASD. Cholesterol supplementation has been shown to improve symptoms such as irritability, hyperactivity, and sleep disorders in some children with ASD [213].…”

Complementary and alternative medicine use in children with autistic spectrum disorder in Mauritius

“…This can relate to the findings of Adams et al [20] which showed that nutritional and metabolic status of children with autism can be improved by supplements of oral vitamin/mineral, whereby the dose was increased during the first 3 weeks, suggesting that these supplements should be taken into consideration as a complementary therapy. Likewise, it has been observed that Vitamin C can decrease stereotyped behaviors in children with ASD [14].…”

The Role of Thiamine in Autism

“…Lower levels of plasma ATP and red blood cell NADH were reported in children with autism than in controls. Vitamin and minerals supplements were associated with greater significant improvement in ATP and NADH levels as well as subscores on the hyperactivity, tantrum, and receptive language in the autism group compared with the placebo group [134][135]. In addition, gene variants of the NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase 1α subcomplex 5 (NDUFA5), an enzyme complex in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, are associated with autism [136].…”