Children with ASD often report high deficiency in vit. B6. In several studies the level of pyridoxine before and after vitamin supplementation in ASD individuals were tested. Behavioral improvements were obtained after giving a combined dose of vit.
– Children with autism may well need higher doses of vitamin B6 than healthy typical peers, for many reasons: Picky diets that lack vitamins, gut inflammation that impedes absorption of B vitamins, or gut microbial infections that eat up B vitamins before your child can absorb them.
Essentially, Methyl-B12 helps to increase the amount of “fuel” to the brain. With more fuel, autism patients tend to see improvements in their speech, language, cognitive, and social abilities. Perhaps most importantly, Methyl-B12 is integral to a biochemical process known as methylation.
Unfortunately, it is not known whether vitamin B6 makes any difference in those conditions because it has not been studied in controlled trials. The Autism Research Institute's (ARI) website noted in the past that 46% of children improve with vitamin B6 and magnesium.
Vitamin B6 and magnesium to ease autism symptoms
More than a dozen studies have suggested that supplementing vitamin B6 and magnesium in children with autism helps to ease symptoms, but the treatment remains controversial as each child's body will react differently to varying interventions.
Researchers found Vitamin B6 with Magnesium has the potential effects to alleviate the core symptoms of autism. A possible association higher doses of vitamin B6-Magnesium supplementation may reduce biochemical abnormalities e.g. reduction of urinary excretion of homovanillic acid and improve neurobehavioral symptoms.
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is widely regarded as the gold standard for treating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders.
Vitamin D has been suggested as a therapy to improve symptoms of ASD including speech [18].
We have known since the 1970s that a nutritional approach can help autism, thanks to the pioneering research by Dr Bernard Rimland of the Institute for individual Behaviour Research in San Diego, California. He showed that vitamin B6, C and magnesium supplements significantly improved symptoms in autistic individuals.
Studies have shown that medication is most effective when it's combined with behavioral therapies. Risperidone (Risperdal) and Aripiprazole (Abilify) are the only drugs approved by the FDA for children with autism spectrum disorder.
Can you take vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 together? You can—in fact, in many cases, it's unavoidable (in a positive sense). Foods like meat, fish, and fortified cereals usually contain vitamins B6 and B12.
Generally, it's suggested that people take large doses of vitamin B6 (usually in tablet form) along with magnesium. Magnesium is supposed to help the body absorb the vitamin B6 and reduce any side effects.
It was observed that high B12 levels were associated with an increased risk of the offspring developing autism during childhood. However, no association was found between the maternal B12 and the prevalence of Asperger's or pervasive developmental disorder in the offspring.
Children with ASDs can have poor protein intake as well as frequent nutrient deficiencies, including fiber, vitamin D, vitamin E, calcium, vitamin B12, and iron deficiencies. Food selectivity or picky eating is an important risk factor in the development of nutritional deficiencies.
Probiotics improve ASD by regulating gut–brain axis. Hence, modulating the microbiota–gut–brain axis with probiotics could be an effective strategy for ASD improvement (Figure 3) and may alleviate GI dysfunction.
Children with autism frequently have inflammation. Fish oil can assist, along with a healthy diet and other lifestyle changes. Fish oil, which contains omega-3, aids in lowering inflammation in the brain, impacting neurotransmitters, mood, sleep, attention, and aggression.
Vitamin B12 (Specifically MethylB12)
Methylation is important for cognition, mood and sleep regulation, and speech development. A methylated form of vitamin B12 can help improve all of these issues.
These include behavioral therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. Behavioral therapy is a type of treatment that focuses on helping autistic children develop social and communication skills. Speech therapists work with children to improve their speech sounds, articulation, fluency, and voice.
JB2 is a new therapeutic drug developed and tested by Northwestern researchers that could treat Phelan-McDermid syndrome, a subtype of autism. A new therapy could treat Phelan-McDermid syndrome, a rare subtype of autism spectrum disorder, according to a December study by a group of Northwestern researchers.
The only medications approved by the FDA for children with autism are Abilify and Risperdal. Both are antipsychotic medications that can help with irritability and aggression. Medication can also be helpful for kids who also have another diagnosis.
Our top pick for magnesium supplement for autistic kids is Mary Ruth's Kids Magnesium Calm Gummies. In addition to magnesium, this supplement contains L-theanine, an amino acid that has been associated with mitigating stress and promoting relaxation.
More precisely, it may be called “intracellular Mg deficiency” affecting mainly neural transmission, which is very sensitive to such ionic variations. Another group of neuronal diseases in which magnesium has been implicated is ASD/PDD/ autism.
Magnesium L Threonate (or magnesium citrate in those who can only take gummies) are the preparations that has been most studied and show the highest benefit for ADHD, cognition, mood, and anxiety.