Autism
July 16, 2002 by Linda Lazarides
Filed under Health issues
Some causative factors
- Magnesium deficiency
- Vitamin B6 deficiency
- Vitamin C deficiency.
Promising nutritional research
16 autistic children receiving vitamin B6 for autism were either continued on vitamin B6 or given placebo, on a double-blind basis. The placebo group significantly deteriorated after withdrawal of the vitamin B6. Rimland B et al: The effect of high doses of vitamin B6 on autistic children: a double-blind crossover study. Am J Psychiatry 135(4):1978.
In a 30-week double-blind trial, 8g70kgday supplements of vitamin C were given to autistic schoolchildren, resulting in a reduction in severity of symptoms. Dolske MC et al: A preliminary trial of ascorbic acid as supplemental therapy for autism. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 17(5):765-74, 1993.
In a trial administering vitamin B6 with magnesium to 44 autistic children, 15 showed a moderate clinical improvement and worsened when the supplements were discontinued. Lelord G et al: Clinical and biological effects of high doses of vitamin B6 and magnesium on autistic children. Acta Vitaminol Enzymol 4(1-2):27-44, 1982.
In a double-blind clinical trial on 60 autistic children given supplements of vitamin B6 and magnesium, there was a behaviour improvement and significant improvements in biological parameters. Martineau J et al: Vitamin B6, magnesium and combined B6-Mg therapeutic effects in childhood autism. Biol Psychiatry 20(5):467-78, 1985.
A group of 44 autistic children were treated with large doses of vitamin B6 and magnesium. There was a clinical improvement in 15 children. Lelord G et al: Effects of pyridoxine and magnesium on autistic symptoms – initial observations. J Autism Dev Disord 11(2):219-30, 1981.
Questionnaires on the treatment of 4,000 autistic children revealed that among the biomedcal treatments, the use of high-dosage vitamin B6 with magnesium was found to be 6 times more effective than the two commonly used pharmaceutical agents fenfluramine and thioridazine hydrochloride. Rimland H: Controversies in the treatment of autistic children: vitamin and drug therapy. J Child Neurol 3 Suppl:S68-72, 1988.
Information compiled by Linda Lazarides
Naturopathic Nutritionist, Author, Educator
Linda Lazarides is Course Director of the School of Modern Naturopathy and author of eight books on health, nutrition and naturopathy.
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