Treating Autism with Vitamins

No one knows why some children are affected with autism. It is thought to have something to do with food allergies or other sensitivities but no one is sure. There are special diets that are recommended before starting an autistic on medication. One is the gluten-free diet, a diet with cod-liver oil, and treating with vitamin supplements.

Vitamins are important part of keeping our body healthy. We do not take in sufficient amounts of some vitamins and minerals in our daily diet. A multivitamin is recommended daily to ensure we get the dose of vitamins and minerals that are essential to our health.

Research on the use of vitamins with autistic children began in the 1960’s. Two British neurologists reported significantly higher levels of metabolites in their urine. By giving these children a single 30 mg tablet of the B6 vitamin normalized their urine. Then, no behavioral studies were done. A German researcher carried the research a little further. He tested for behavioral improvement after giving autistic children between 100 mg to 600 mg a day of supplemental vitamin B6. His test subjects showed a big improvement and two of them began to speak for the first time.

Soon parents of autistic were experimenting on their own by giving their child megadoses of vitamins. The megavitamin included vitamin B6, Niacinamide, Pantothenic acid, and vitamin C. Soon a clinical trial was set up to corroborate the findings that autistic children improved after beginning to take megavitamins. Four months into the trial it was abundantly clear that remarkable improvements were being noted in the test subjects. Between 30 and 40 percent showed significant improvement when vitamin B was given to them. Some did have a few side effects but these were minor. Side effects included sensitivity to sound, irritability, and a renewal of bed-wetting. It was also discovered that these side effects were cleared up when extra magnesium was given to the test subjects.

A second experimental trial took place about two years after the first one and results were again significant. After the group that was taking an additional amount of vitamin B6, they were found to have better eye contact, more interest in the world around them, and were much better behaved socially than before. They were not normal, but they were closer than they were before they started taking the supplements.

There have been no confirmed cure of autism but many have showed remarkable improvement after taking mega doses of vitamin B6 and magnesium. One example concerned an autistic man of 25 years of age who was about to be expelled from his workshop shelter because of unmanageable behavior. The mother was advised to give her son a supplement containing vitamin B6, magnesium and a few other nutrients. Within a few short weeks the son showed significant improvement and his work skills also were dramatically improved. His piecework pay went from $1.50 to $25.00 per week. To this woman and her son, megavitamin therapy changed their lives.