Skip to main content
Log in

Plasma levels of folates, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and ascorbate in severely disturbed children

  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The recent upsurge in megavitamin therapy raises questions about the role of vitamin deficiencies and dependencies in mental health. With this in mind, the plasma levels of folic acid, ascorbic acid, pyridoxine, and riboflavin were studied in approximately 125 children admitted to a child psychiatric unit. There were no apparent decreased levels of vitamins in these children in terms of their age, race, or psychiatric diagnosis. It is postulated that vitamin deficiencies per se cannot be proposed as etiological factors in any of the psychiatric deficits represented. Megavitamin therapy, if successful, is not effective due to correction of vitamin deficiencies as opposed to vitamin dependencies and may be due to the metabolic onus and consequent effects of such heavy doses of vitamins.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alias, A. G. Serum transaminase and alkaline phosphatase in schizophrenia.Biological Psychiatry, 1972,4, 89–92.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arakawa, T. [Congenital anomalies in folate metabolism.]Kokkaido Igaku Zasshi, 1971,46, 341. (Chemical Abstracts, 1972,77, No. 162654h).

    Google Scholar 

  • Basu, T. K. Possible toxicological aspects of megadoses of ascorbic acid.Chemico-Siological Interactions, 1977,19, 247–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binette, Y., Perron, L. P., Gravel, G., Hamel, O., Lamarre, G., Legault, R., Morin, L., & Berthiaume, M. Étude de la vitamin C chez les schizophrenes.Union Medicale du Canada, 1965,94, 1272–1275.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bird, O. D., McGlohon, V. M., & Vaitkus, J. W. Naturally occurring folates in the blood and liver of the rat.Analytical Biochemistry, 1965,12, 18–35.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carney, M. W. P. Serum folate values in 423 psychiatric patients.British Medical Journal, 1967,2, 512–516.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chatterjee, I. B., Majumder, A. K., Nandi, B. K., & Subramanian, N. Synthesis and some major functions of vitamin C in animals.Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1974,258, 24–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, M., & Brown, W. M. Apparent reversal of a familial syndrome of seizures and later dementia by administration of vitamin D. In D. V. Siva Sankar (Ed.),Psychopharmacology of childhood. Westbury: PJD Publications, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeWolff, F. A., Hillen, F. C., Sprangers, W. J. J. M., Suijkerbuijk-Van Beck, M. M. A., & Noach, E. L. Influence of folic acid on the action of diphenylhydantom.Archives Internationales de Pharmacodynamie et de Thérapie, 1971,194, 316–317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Difco Manual. Microbiological assay of vitamins. Detroit: Difco Company, 1963.

  • Driskell, J. A., & Loker, S. F. Behavioral patterns of female rats fed high levels of vitamin B6.Nutrition Reports International, 1976,14, 467–473.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dzhelieva, Z. H., & Solov'eva, G. A. Interaction of folic acid and ascorbic acids during folic acid deficiency in monkeys.Chemical Abstracts, 1970,72, No. 97899x.

  • Gertner, J. M., Hodsman, A. B., & Neuberger, J. N. 1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol in the treatment of hypocalcimic psychosis.Clinical Endocrinology, 1976,5, 539–544.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, F. W., Cowen, M. A., Ozerengin, M. F., & Bigelow, N. Nutritional requirements in mental illness. I. Ascorbic acid retention in schizophrenia. A reexamination.Biological Psychiatry, 1972,5, 289–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, D. R., & Pauling, L.Orthomolecular psychiatry. San Francisco: Freeman, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henry, R. J.Clinical chemistry—principles and techniques. New York: Harper & Row, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herjanic, M., & Moss-Herjanic, B. L. Ascorbic acid test in psychiatric patients.Journal of Schizophrenia, 1967,1, 256–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, R., Jones, M., Jones, T. G., & Mathews, D. M. Serum B12 and folate concentrations in mental patients.British Journal of Psychiatry, 1967,113, 1291–1295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Imlach, A. Study in Alberta of megavitamin therapy agrees it is unproven and still experimental.Canadian Medical Association Journal, 1977,116, 557. Cf: Megavitamin therapy for childhood psychosis and learning disabilities. Statement of the Committee on Nutrition, American Academy of Pediatrics.Postgraduate Medicine, 1977,61 (April), 230–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kral, V. A., Solyom, L., Enesco, H., & Ledwidge, B. Relation of vitamin B12 and folic acid to memory function.Biological Psychiatry, 1970,2, 19–26.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marcusen, D. C., & Heninger, R. W. Effect of ascorbic acid on the pituitary-thyroid system in the rat.Journal of Endocrinology, 1976,70, 313–314.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Masek, J., Hruba, F., Novakova, V., Honzak, R., & Kaucka, J. [Vitamin C and vigilance.]Rev. Czech. Med., 1976,22, 209–215. (Chemical Abstracts, 1977,86, No. 115318c).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. Z., Nonce, W. E., Norton, J. A., Wolen, R. L., Griffiths, R. S., & Rose, R. J. Therapeutic effect of vitamin C.Journal of the American Medical Association, 1977,237, 248–251.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patel, H., Dunn, H. G., Tischler, B., & Karaa McBurney, A., with the assistance of Hach, E. Carotenemia in mentally retarded children. I. Incidence and etiology.Canadian Medical Association Journal, 1973,108, 848–852.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pauling, L. Orthomolecular psychiatry.Science, 1968,160, 265–271.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peterman, R. A., & Goodhart, R. S. Current status of vitamin therapy in nervous and mental disease.Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1954,2, 11–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Puzynski, S. [Significance of disturbances in the metabolism of copper, ceruloplasmin and ascorbic acid in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.]Rocz. Akad. Med. Bialymstoku, 1969,14, 99–162. (Chemical Abstracts, 1971,74, No. 109517c).

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, E. H., Preece, J. M., Bailey, J., & Coppen, A. Folate deficiency in depressive illness.British Journal of Psychiatry, 1970,117, 287–292.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, E. H., Preece, J., & Johnson, A. L. Folate metabolism in epileptic and psychiatric patients.Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 1971,34, 726–732.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sankar, D. V. Siva. A summary of thirty biochemical tests in childhood schizophrenia. In D. V. Siva Sankar (Ed.),Schizophrenia—current concepts and research. New York: PJD Publications, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sankar, D. V. Siva. Biogenic amine uptake by blood platelets and RBC in childhood schizophrenia.Acta Paedopsychiatrica, 1970,37, 174–182.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sankar, D. V. Siva. Uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine by isolated platelets in childhood schizophrenia and autism.Neuropsychobiology, 1977,3, 234–239.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A. D. M. Megaloblastic madness.British Medical Journal, 1960,ii, 1840–1845.

    Google Scholar 

  • Snaith, R. P., Mehta, S., & Raby, A. H. Serum folate and vitamin B12 in epileptics with and without mental illness.British Journal of Psychiatry, 1970,116, 179–183.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vander Kamp, H. Biochemical abnormality in schizophrenia involving ascorbic acid.International Journal of Neuropsychiatry, 1966,2, 204–206.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vann, D. Vitamin B12 folic acid and the care of the mentally disturbed aged patients.Medical Journal of Australia, 1972,2, 1149.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vobecky, J. S., & Vobecky, J. Vitamin C and vitamin E in spontaneous abortion.International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research, 1976,46, 291–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, W. J. Vitamin B6 in the pathogenesis and treatment of diseases of the CNS. In H. L. Klawans (Ed.),Clinical neuropharmacology (Vol. 1). New York: Raven Press, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

The author wishes to thank Mrs. Anneliese Geisler for competent technical assistance, and Drs. Lauretta Bender and Gloria Faretra for their interest and cooperation in the study. Special acknowledgment is made of the cooperation of the psychiatric and ward staff, and of Drs. Rose Hartmann, Leonard Cobrinik, and Jack Praver.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sankar, D.V.S. Plasma levels of folates, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and ascorbate in severely disturbed children. J Autism Dev Disord 9, 73–82 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531294

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531294

Keywords

Navigation