- B5, vitamin E and total carotenoids levels showed “possibly significant” lower levels in children with autism.
- Folate and Niacin – possibly significant in autism (Functional needs assessed using FIGLU and n-methyl-nicotinamide)
- Low lithium in autism
- Twenty-five percent of the autism group was below the reference range for iodine and calcium.
- Tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin was significantly lower in the autism group. (Low tryptophan plays a role in depression and poor sleep)
- Glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, was significantly higher (Glutamate is a factor in hyperactivity)
- Other differences were possibly significant such as slightly decreased tyrosine and phenylalanine and slightly higher serine.
- 3 months of supplementation increased the level of most vitamins, including vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, folate, B12, C, E, and biotin.
- The supplement also improved two functional biomarkers in urine, FIGLU and methylmalonic acid, indicating the supplement improve functional vitamin status of folate and vitamin B12.
- The supplement increased the levels of many essential minerals including: calcium, iodine, lithium, manganese, molybdenum, and selenium.
- The increase in lithium levels was large (this form of lithium was very well absorbed), so researchers felt less lithium may be better in future studies.
- After treatment, there was a significant increase in total sulfate, and a large and marginally significant increase in free sulfate. Adequate sulfate levels are important for sulfation, for which there are hundreds of functions in the body including proper gut barrier function and detoxification.
- The level of SAM increased significantly, and there was a marginally significant decrease (improvement) in uridine, a marker of impaired methylation, indicating that supplementation may have improved methylation. Methylation is important for adequate neurotransmitter levels and gene expression.
- Reduced glutathione improved significantly and nearly normalized. Glutathione is a major antioxidant (important to neutralize oxidative stress), and has many functions including detoxification.
My now 10 yr old was on the first study at his 4th birthday (OCT), nonverbal and really to himself. By Thanksgiving he met and was chasing his shadow for the first time and SAID TO ME (pointing at my laundry basket) “Mommy can I take that to the livingroom and use it as a boat?” Full on sentences in a little over a month which was by then a full dose. You start with a 1/4 dose and work your way up. My son only needed it for about a year and a half. It then upset his stomach. I assumed he didn’t need it anymore. He no longer needed the specific vitamin/mineral combination that is in this supplement. I still supplement with good quality vit/min. I trust Prof. Adams completely in his research and devotion to the autism community. As well as Julie Matthews.
Great report, congratulations! I’m unlcear on what mix of support you used. Was it the ANRC Essentials multi?
Hi my daughter diagnosed with asbergers and spd. She takes a multivitamin. I finally found vitamins in a capsule which I put in her drink. Are the above supplements additional supplements that should be taken with a multivitamin?
Can I purchase this supplement and have it posted to Australia ?
Hello Julie,
I’m interested in trying the ANRC Essentials multi mentioned in your article. I’m curious though whether any individual on the spectrum can take it? Would blood work be recommended prior to starting your child/adult with ASD on something like this? I read some testimonials and discovered that you may have to start at a low dose to begin with as some parents mentioned it caused some increase in behaviours at a higher dose. I’m assuming the powder form might be better if needing to try different dosing? I’m also wondering how long it typically takes to notice any results?
Your input would be appreciated.
We have a 11 year old and we use a supplement called Next with great results
Thank you for this excellent article. It mirrors my experience with my 6 y.o. son. We’ve recently made changes to his supplementation — very similar to what is described here — with very good results. But I, too, am interested in the lithium aspect. I give my son a low dose of lithium orotate, but it is higher than in this multi formulated after the study. Any additional info related to lithium would be appreciated.
My daughter is on Lithium Orotate and the prescribed dosage is 1mg per kilo of weight. So she is 60kg in weight and on 60mg of Lithium.
What Lithium supplement and dosage did you use? After viewing websites, I’m confused about the information and they don’t address children with Autism, ADHD and other behavioral disorders.
Hi Kathy, I suggest you look at the ANRC Essentials multi (link in article) and see the form and amount they use – in the study they used a previous version of the formula. Then they changed the formula slightly based on what they learned from the study. You can also email them for further insight.