Comprehensive Nutritional and Dietary Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder-A Randomized, Controlled 12-Month Trial.

James Adams,Elena Pollard,Julie Matthews,Jane Naviaux,Eva Gehn,Kefeng Li,Julie Ingram,Devon Coleman,Dana Laake,Elizabeth Geis,Robert Hellmers,Jessica Mitchell,David Quig,Tapan Audhya,Robert Naviaux,Rebecca Adams,Valeria Fimbres

doi:10.3390/nu10030369

Abstract

This study involved a randomized, controlled, single-blind 12-month treatment study of a comprehensive nutritional and dietary intervention. Participants were 67 children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ages 3–58 years from Arizona and 50 non-sibling neurotypical controls of similar age and gender. Treatment began with a special vitamin/mineral supplement, and additional treatments were added sequentially, including essential fatty acids, Epsom salt baths, carnitine, digestive enzymes, and a healthy gluten-free, casein-free, soy-free (HGCSF) diet. There was a significant improvement in nonverbal intellectual ability in the treatment group compared to the non-treatment group (+6.7 ± 11 IQ points vs. −0.6 ± 11 IQ points, p = 0.009) based on a blinded clinical assessment. Based on semi-blinded assessment, the treatment group, compared to the non-treatment group, had significantly greater improvement in autism symptoms and developmental age. The treatment group had significantly greater increases in EPA, DHA, carnitine, and vitamins A, B2, B5, B6, B12, folic acid, and Coenzyme Q10. The positive results of this study suggest that a comprehensive nutritional and dietary intervention is effective at improving nutritional status, non-verbal IQ, autism symptoms, and other symptoms in most individuals with ASD. Parents reported that the vitamin/mineral supplements, essential fatty acids, and HGCSF diet were the most beneficial.

Highlights

Many studies have demonstrated that children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have significant nutritional deficiencies, metabolic imbalances, and digestive problems
Vitamin/Minerals: Two participants had worsening behavior that was possibly due to the vitamin/mineral supplement, so after four months they stopped use of all supplements and only implemented the healthy HGCSF diet
The study results suggest that the comprehensive nutrition/diet protocol was safe and effective

Summary

Introduction

Many studies have demonstrated that children and adults with ASD often have significant nutritional deficiencies, metabolic imbalances, and digestive problems. We discuss specific research related to vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, mitochondrial disorders/carnitine issues, and gastrointestinal disorders (digestive problems and food sensitivities). Several studies suggest that customized vitamin/mineral supplementation is beneficial for children with ASD. Three studies have demonstrated that children with ASD have impaired methylation, decreased glutathione, and increased oxidative stress [4,5,6]. Those studies demonstrated that nutritional supplementation (with methyl-B12, folinic acid, and trimethylglycine) is beneficial

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