Introduction
Autism spectrum disorder falls under the class of severe chronic conditions. A person suffering from Autism has problems with social interaction, communication, and repetitive behavior.
Autism is a lot more common than most people think. Recent data shows that one out of every 54 children are diagnosed by the age of eight.
Given the fact that we are yet to find an exact cause behind Autism, there is no standard treatment process for Autism. And the limits of available treatment options have substantially increased the prevalence of the disease. It can be even more frustrating for parents with children with autism, especially if they don’t know they have the disorder.
Hence, intervention remains the only choice.
Apart from the intervention method, one method has gained popularity in recent years. It is the use of dietary supplements.
The current best evidence of more than 20 randomized control trials on 8 different supplements was reviewed. For each supplement, this report focuses on their definition and how they have been fruitful in controlling Autism symptoms.
About Autism
As we have already said, Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. People suffering from Autism show the following characteristics.
- Difficulty In Social Communication: People with Autism find it hard to express themselves in public. Social interactions are not their cup of tea. It only makes them anxious and stressed.
- Making Repetitive Movements: People with Autism often repeat a certain behavior and like to live their life in a restricted way. They dislike changes and feel more secure when they stick with their daily routine.
These are the characteristics that filter out people with Autism from the crowd. In addition to these main traits, it is common for those with ASD to have the following.
- Special interests that can make them forget everything.
- Being over or under sensitivity to light, touch, sound, and taste.
- Being anxious about everything all the time.
- Having unstable mood swings.
Autism Studies: Supplement Publications
Over the last couple of decades, many large organizations have done research on Autism supplements.
We have gone through all the studies present in the database and initiated a systematic search. So this is what the studies have to say about Autism supplements included in most popular autism supplement brands (see Simple Spectrum for our top recommendation).
1. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a neuroactive steroid that involves the development of the brain. In addition, Vitamin D helps the body with multiple biological activities such as calcium signaling, cellular proliferation, neuroprotective action, neurotrophic and cellular differentiation.
The mounting number of studies have shown a link between Autism and decreased levels of Vitamin D in patients. Reviewing all the studies gave us two conclusions –
- Anti-inflammatory effect.
- Effects on serotonin.
These two effects might be the reason why Vitamin D is considered effective against Autism.
2. Folinic Acid
Folic acid is an important water-soluble B Vitamin. It is an important part of the nutrient that is closely related to the metabolism of homocysteine. Studies show that abnormalities in homocysteine are related to Autism.
Hence, there is a possibility that disruption in the folate-related metabolism might increase the risk of ASD.
Folinic acid is the reduced form of Folate. Intake of folic acid can normalize the carbon-based metabolism to stabilize the cerebrospinal fluid folate concentration. This can improve the neurological system.
As it has the potential to treat neurological problems, experts believe that it has the potential to suppress Autism symptoms.
3. Omega 3 Fatty Acid
Omega 3 fatty acids are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is an essential nutrient that enhances your normal growth and supports neurological development.
Out of all the Omega 3 acids, the two Omega 3 acids –
- EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid).
- DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid).
– are of interest for supplementation.
EPA and DHA are the substrates for the production of eicosanoids which are necessary for cellular communication and immune regulation.
Despite being one of the major nutrients supporting our growth, there is yet to be any solid evidence on whether omega 3 fatty acids are effective against Autism.
Final Thoughts
While the exact cause of autism remains unknown, studies have certainly evidenced various risk factors. Though these risk factors might not hold the complete truth, experts are carrying on the research to find more data to support their claim.
Among the three reviewed supplements, all three show signs of treating Autism. However, we have to wait and collect more data to be more confident on the supplementary claims.