5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), Folate, Folic Acid, Folinic Acid, and Leucovorin & Autism Research List
2012 Research
→Cerebral Folate Receptor Autoantibodies in Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Provides overview of cerebral folate deficiency and folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAs) in autism
- Studied concentrations of folate receptor autoantibodies (FRAs) in individuals with autism
- Also studied the impact of leucovorin calcium on attention, receptive and expressive language, stereotypical behavior, and verbal communication
2011 Research
→Vitamin Supplementation Reduces the Level of Homocysteine in the Urine of Autistic Children
- Included 30 children with autism spectrum disorders
- Focused on the effect of supplementation with folic acid combined with vitamins B6 and B12 on homocysteine urine levels compared to supplementation with only vitamins B6 and B12
→Autism Speaks: Meeting on Folate Metabolism and Autism Spectrum Disorders, March 19-20, 2009, Washington, DC
- No research summary available
2010 Research
→Folate and Methionine Metabolism in Autism: a Systematic Review
- A review article
- Provides overview of folate metabolism and folate-methionine cycle in relation to autism
- Review included 18 studies, 5 of which focused on interventions used to correct folic acid levels in individuals with autism
2009 Research
→Efficacy of Methylcobalamin and Folinic Acid Treatment on Glutathione Redox Status in Children with Autism
- An open-label trial
- Included 40 children with autism spectrum disorders
- Focused on effect of treatment with methylcobalamin and folinic acid on glutathione redox status and transmethylation/transsulfuration metabolites
2005 Research
→Cerebral Folate Deficiency with Developmental Delay, Autism, and Response to Folinic Acid
- A case study
- Individual with autism had low levels of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) in the cerebral spinal fluid
- Discusses impact of treatment with folate on cerebral spinal fluid levels of 5-MTHF
2004 Research
→Metabolic Biomarkers of Increased Oxidative Stress and Impaired Methylation Capacity in Children with Autism
- Treatment portion of study was an open-label study
- Treatment intervention included 8 children with autism spectrum disorders
- Studied the impact of folinic acid supplementation (combined with betaine or betaine and methylcobalamin) on transmethylation and transsulfuration pathways
2002 Research
→Autism, an Extreme Challenge to Integrative Medicine. Part 2: Medical Management
- A review article
- Provides a brief summary of folic acid as an autism treatment
1988 Research
→Controversies in the Treatment of Autistic Children: Vitamin and Drug Therapy
- A review article
- Briefly discusses high-dosage folic acid as an autism treatment
1986 Research
→Folic Acid as an Adjunct in the Treatment of Children with the Autism Fragile-X Syndrome (AFRAX)
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study
- Included 4 children with autism fragile-X syndrome
- Focused on the impact of supplementation with folic acid on behavior
1981 Research
→Folic Acid and B12 in Autism and Neuropsychiatric Disturbances of Childhood
- No research summary available
Additional Resources:
- More Information on Autism Treatments
- Additional Information on Autism
