Folinic Acid Supplements and Autism

Potential Benefits for Communication Skills

Folinic acid supplements may enhance verbal communication skills in children with autism. A double-blind randomized controlled trial investigated the impact of a daily dose of 50 mg of folinic acid on the communication abilities of autistic children, yielding promising results.

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder

In the United States, approximately 2% of children exhibit symptoms consistent with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many affected children struggle with communication and social interaction, particularly in group settings.

Understanding Autism Causes

While the underlying causes of autism remain largely unclear, certain correlations exist. Research indicates that women who consumed folate supplements, a B vitamin, prior to conception and during pregnancy had a decreased risk of having a child diagnosed with ASD. These observations have prompted investigations into folate supplementation as a potential therapeutic option for autism.

The Role of Folinic Acid

For the body to absorb dietary folate, it must be converted to folinic acid. Various genetic mutations can hinder this conversion. Previous studies have shown that children with ASD often possess a higher number of folate receptor autoantibodies, suggesting that these children may benefit from folinic acid supplementation. While folinic acid requires a prescription, it has been demonstrated to be safe and well-tolerated.

Clinical Trial Overview

Led by Dr. Richard Frye from the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute, researchers conducted a 12-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effects of folinic acid on autism symptoms. The study enrolled 48 children aged 3 to 14, with 79% of participants being male. Each child received either daily doses of folinic acid or a placebo, with dosages calculated based on their weight, capped at 50 mg per day.

Evaluation and Results

Comprehensive in-person assessments were performed at the beginning of the study and after 12 weeks. Parents also completed questionnaires during these evaluations. The findings were published in *Molecular Psychiatry* in October 2016 online and in February 2018 in print.

Children receiving folinic acid showed significant improvements in daily living skills and verbal communication. No major adverse effects were reported. Additionally, the study identified the folate receptor alpha autoantibody as a potential blood biomarker to predict the response to folinic acid treatment.

Implications and Future Research

These results are encouraging, especially considering that the only currently approved medications for autism are antipsychotic drugs, which often have limited effectiveness and can cause undesirable side effects. However, the researchers emphasized the need for larger, multi-center trials to validate these preliminary findings and to ascertain the duration of folinic acid treatment necessary for optimal results.

Author Information

Written by Debra A. Kellen, PhD.

Reference

Frye, R. E., Slattery, J., Delhey, L., Furgerson, B., Strickland, T., Tippett, M., … & James, S. J. (2016). Folinic acid improves verbal communication in children with autism and language impairment: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. *Molecular Psychiatry*. DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.168