ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Folic Acid and B12 in Autism and Neuropsychiatric Disturbances of Childhood

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-7138(09)60720-2Get rights and content

Abstract

Serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate and serum vitamin B12 were measured in autistic patients (N = 43), nonautistic neuropsychiatric patients (N = 59), and normal controls (N = 19). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 16 autistic and nonautistic patients was assayed for CSF folate and metabolites of dopamine and serotonin (HVA and 5-HIAA, respectively). Serum folate, serum B12, and RBC folate were normal in all 3 groups. A subgroup of autistic children receiving folic acid vitamin supplements had elevated serum and RBC folate without evidence of clinical improvement. CSF folate levels were within the normal range in both patient groups and did not correlate with either serum folate levels or monoamine metabolite levels. These findings are consistent with an active transport system regulating CSF folate independently of blood levels execpt in cases of extreme folate deficiency. Therapeutic folic acid supplementation in the autistic population is not supported by the findings of this investigation.

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    This investigation was supported in part by National Research Service Award MH 07704–02, CCRC grant #RR 00125, MH-CRC grant MH30929, Mr. Leonard Berger, the Baker Foundation, and the Ford Foundation.

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