SOME FROM COLUMN B: How B Vitamins May Help Fight Autism

Lately, you hear a lot about how the state of the environment and how a lack of "green" initiatives can cause neurobehavioral disorders in kids. The puzzling condition known as autism, especially, is on the rise and who knows how many factors have a role in the onset of this troubling disorder? Many scientists and experts believe that metabolic abnormalities play some part in the process. Nevertheless, there's very little that we, as a society, can do about decreasing the amount of cases at this point. However, that is not to say that we can't do more for the children that have already been diagnosed with autism. Indeed, the treatment and therapy of neurobehavioral disorders just got a proverbial shot in the arm.

According to a short article by Dale Kiefer in the September 2009 issue of Life Extension, "Investigators at Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute treated 40 autistic children for three months with methlycobalamin (a form of vitamin B12 that is active in the central nervous system) and folinic acid, which has vitamin activity equivalent to folic acid. At the study' s onset, autistic subjects has significantly different levels of biomarkers associated with oxidative stress and detoxification capacity, compared with healthy control subjects. After treatment, these biomarkers improved significantly, although not to the level seen in unaffected control children. Glutathione levels also increased significantly among autistic subjects."

There you have it. This is a definite feather in the cap of what they call "targeted nutritional intervention." The application of two B vitamins slashed the level of oxidative stress in these afflicted kids and significantly lowered their ability to become affected by toxic surroundings. In addition, the autistic subjects also got a boost of glutathione (a known antioxidant that aids in the protection of cells from free radicals and peroxides).

To conclude, it seems like a no-brainer to utilize and/or recommend a corresponding B vitamin supplement for an autistic child. In addition, this information undoubtedly renews the value of using B vitamins such as folic acid and vitamin B12 as preventative measures against similar disorders and conditions.

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