title: Vitamin supplementation reduces the level of homocysteine in the urine of autistic children.
abstract: Significant differences in homocysteine levels in the urine of autistic children are observed. We hypothesized that vitamin supplementation might reduce the level of urinary homocysteine. To rationalize such a hypothesis, analyses were performed using the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method. The homocysteine level in the urine of autistic children was measured twice: (1) before vitamin supplementation (group C, 30 autistic children) and (2) after supplementation, with either folic acid and vitamins B(6) and B(12) (group A1, 24 autistic children) or vitamins B(6) and B(12) alone (group A2, 6 autistic children). The homocysteine level in the urine of autistic children before vitamin supplementation was 2.41 ± 1.10 mmol/mol creatinine (mean ± SD difference). After treatment, the homocysteine level was reduced to 1.13 ± 0.44 and 1.33 ± 0.39 mmol/mol creatinine for A1 and A2 groups, respectively. The intake of vitamins B(6) and B(12), together with folic acid, was found to be more effective in lowering the levels of urinary homocysteine than the intake of vitamins B(6) and B(12) alone. Our findings may lead to the recommendation of including vitamins B(6) and B(12) together with folic acid supplementation in the diets of children with autism.
authors.affiliation: Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Technical University of Lodz, 90-924 Lodz, Poland. jkaluzna@p.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kałużna-Czaplińska
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michalska
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rynkowski
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000178:diet therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003404:Creatinine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D014805:Vitamin B 12