Cerebral Folate Deficiency, Folinic Acid, and Leucovorin

Surprisingly Common Findings of Cerebral Folate Autoimmunity in Autism© « Dr Jeff Bradstreet, MD, MD(H), FAAFP

We have been evaluating autoimmunity to cerebral folate receptors and related transport mechanisms in children with autism.

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Unlike the traditional description of cerebral folate deficiency, these cases of autoimmunity to the folate receptors present with significant variability ranging from profoundly effected to only mild changes.

Treatment consists of using 1-2mg/Kg/day of body weight of folinic acid – usually as the prescription medicine: Leucovorin^®. However, this does not always result in improvement by itself, and we speculate that some form of immune treatment may needed as well. In support of this concept, researchers have found a milk-free diet downregulates the autoimmunity (makes it less of a problem). This may partially explain why dairy-free diets are helpful for some children with ASD.

More @ http://drbradstreet.org/2011/02/22/surprisingly-common-findings-of-cerebral-folate-autoimmunity-in-autism/

Folic Acid as Autism Treatment

Folic acid: (also known as Vitamin M and Folacin) and Folate (the anionic form) are forms of the water-soluble Vitamin B₉.

Folic acid has been reported to be helpful in autism (ARRI 8/4). The great French researcher Jerome Lejeune reported that supplements of about 250 mcg of folic acid per pound of body weight per day brought on major improvement in several autistic children. Dr. Lejeune gave thousands of retarded children (mostly Down syndrome) 20 mg of folic acid per day in his various studies, with no harm, nor would any harm be expected.

These occur naturally in food and can also be taken as supplements.

Folate in foods and other sources

Leafy vegetables such as spinach, turnip greens, lettuces, dried beans and peas, fortified cereal products, sunflower seeds and certain other fruits and vegetables are rich sources of folate. Liver and liver products also contain high amounts of folate, as does bakers yeast. Some breakfast cereals (ready-to-eat and others) are fortified with 25% to 100% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for folic acid. A table of selected food sources of folate and folic acid can be found at the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.Folate is also found in Vegemite or Marmite, with an average serving (5g) containing 100μg. Folate is also synthesized in bacteria.

Related: Folic Acid on Wikipedia