Should Children with Autism Continue Taking Folic Acid Supplement?

Mostafa I. Waly1,2*

1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman.2Department of Nutrition, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt

*Corresponding Author: Dr. Mostafa Waly. Email: [email protected]

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14206/canad.j.clin.nutr.2013.01.08

Dear Reader,

Elevated levels of homocysteine have been linked with autism. Despite evidence that folic acid supplementation reduces the homocysteine level. There is a need for clinical trials to specifically study the role of folic acid in the primary and secondary prevention of autism. Sporadic evidence from childhood practices that there is a benefit for folic acid supplementation for autistic children and those patients are encouraged to take folic acid as a medication. Meta-analysis studies are needed to study the cause-specific effect of folic acid deficiency and/or hyperhomocysteinemia on the autism incidence.

Waly MI. Should children with autism continue taking folic acid? Canad J Clin Nutr 2013; 1(1): 74.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14206/canad.j.clin.nutr.2013.01.08

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