Track record of nutritional interventions for Autism

A fabulous article published in the Winter 2006 NOHA newsletter (Nutrition for Optimal Health Association), written by Jon B. Pangborn, PhD, ChE, of Syracuse University exhibits several methods of nutritional intervention that have shown success with autistic children. Depending on the variables contributing to the condition, here are those listed to have exhibited improvement, according to thousands of cases tracked by the Autism Research Institute:

• Supplementing with B-6 (Pyridoxyl-5-Phosphate) and magnesium because they act synergistically.
• Supplementing trimethylglycine because it circumvents folate and B12 absorption problems.
• Gluten/casein-free diet which reduces the inflammatory burden on cell membrane in the small intestine
  
• Supplementing with digestive enzymes further breaks down undigested foods (autistic children often have malabsorption issues) and lessens the amount of pathogenic gut flora.
• Chelation therapy (once many of the above therapies are in place) as a detoxifier of heavy metals
  
• Injection of and/or oral use of large dose methylcobalamin (methylated form of B12)

Bonnie - I find this fascinating because these are documented cases from parents and physicians of autistic children. Before considering any of these methods, one must see a health professional who is well-versed in this area.