title: Effect of a vitamin/mineral supplement on children and adults with autism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin/mineral supplements are among the most commonly used treatments for autism, but the research on their use for treating autism has been limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled three month vitamin/mineral treatment study. The study involved 141 children and adults with autism, and pre and post symptoms of autism were assessed. None of the participants had taken a vitamin/mineral supplement in the two months prior to the start of the study. For a subset of the participants (53 children ages 5-16) pre and post measurements of nutritional and metabolic status were also conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vitamin/mineral supplement was generally well-tolerated, and individually titrated to optimum benefit. Levels of many vitamins, minerals, and biomarkers improved/increased showing good compliance and absorption. Statistically significant improvements in metabolic status were many including: total sulfate (+17%, p = 0.001), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM; +6%, p = 0.003), reduced glutathione (+17%, p = 0.0008), ratio of oxidized glutathione to reduced glutathione (GSSG:GSH; -27%, p = 0.002), nitrotyrosine (-29%, p = 0.004), ATP (+25%, p = 0.000001), NADH (+28%, p = 0.0002), and NADPH (+30%, p = 0.001). Most of these metabolic biomarkers improved to normal or near-normal levels.The supplement group had significantly greater improvements than the placebo group on the Parental Global Impressions-Revised (PGI-R, Average Change, p = 0.008), and on the subscores for Hyperactivity (p = 0.003), Tantrumming (p = 0.009), Overall (p = 0.02), and Receptive Language (p = 0.03). For the other three assessment tools the difference between treatment group and placebo group was not statistically significant.Regression analysis revealed that the degree of improvement on the Average Change of the PGI-R was strongly associated with several biomarkers (adj. R2 = 0.61, p < 0.0005) with the initial levels of biotin and vitamin K being the most significant (p < 0.05); both biotin and vitamin K are made by beneficial intestinal flora.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral vitamin/mineral supplementation is beneficial in improving the nutritional and metabolic status of children with autism, including improvements in methylation, glutathione, oxidative stress, sulfation, ATP, NADH, and NADPH. The supplement group had significantly greater improvements than did the placebo group on the PGI-R Average Change. This suggests that a vitamin/mineral supplement is a reasonable adjunct therapy to consider for most children and adults with autism.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01225198.
authors.affiliation: Autism/Asperger's Research Program, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA. jim.adams@asu.edu
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Tapan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Audhya
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McDonough-Means
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quig
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Geis
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gehn
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loresto
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atwood
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barnhouse
authors.forename: Wondra
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins