SCIENCE
Cerebral Folate Deficiency and Autism
- Study: Cerebral Folate Deficiency, Folate Receptor Alpha Autoantibodies, and Leucovorin (Folinic Acid) Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2018)
- Summary: This meta-analysis reviewed multiple studies on cerebral folate deficiency (CFD) and its association with autism. The study found that children with ASD often exhibit low folate levels in the brain, despite normal levels of folate in the blood. Folinic Acid, a reduced form of folate, can bypass the folate receptor autoantibodies that block folate from entering the brain, potentially improving speech, behavior, and cognitive functions in children with ASD.
- Conclusion: Folinic Acid showed promise in improving speech and behavioral outcomes for children with CFD and ASD when administered in appropriate doses.
Folinic Acid Improves Verbal Communication in Children with Autism
- Study: Folinic acid improves verbal communication in children with autism and language impairment: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial (Mol Psychiatry 2018)
- Summary: Improvements in subscales of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, the Autism Symptom Questionnaire and the Behavioral Assessment System for Children were significantly greater in the folinic acid group as compared with the placebo group.
- Conclusion: Improvement in verbal communication, as measured by a ability-appropriate standardized instrument, was significantly greater in participants receiving folinic acid as compared with those receiving placebo.
Folinic Acid improves ADOS in Autism
- Study: Folinic acid improves the score of Autism in the EFFET placebo-controlled randomized trial (Biochimie 2020)
- Summary: The global ADOS score and social interaction and communication sub scores were significantly improved at week 12 compared to baseline in the folinic acid group. The secondary outcomes were the improvement in ADOS sub scores communication, social interactions, Social Responsiveness Score (SRS) and treatment safety.
- Conclusion: This pilot study showed significant efficacy of folinic acid with an oral formulation that is readily available.
Folinic Acid / Autism Meta-Analysis
- Study: Cerebral Folate Deficiency, Folate Receptor Alpha Autoantibodies and Leucovorin (Folinic Acid) Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (J Pers Med 2021)
- Summary: Meta-analysis also found improvements with (Folinic Acid) in overall ASD symptoms (67%), irritability (58%), ataxia (88%), pyramidal signs (76%), movement disorders (47%), and epilepsy (75%). (Folinic Acid) was found to significantly improve communication with medium-to-large effect sizes and have a positive effect on core ASD symptoms and associated behaviors (attention and stereotypy) in individual studies with large effect sizes.
- Conclusion: (Folinic Acid) isassociated with improvements in core and associated symptoms of ASD and appears safe and generally well-tolerated, with the strongest evidence coming from the blinded, placebo-controlled studies.
Folinic Acid with Risperisone
- Study: Folinic Acid as Adjunctive Therapy in Treatment of Inappropriate Speech in Children with Autism: A Double-Blind and Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial (Child Psych Hum Dev 2021)
- Summary: The repeated measures analysis showed significant effect for time × treatment interaction on inappropriate speech, stereotypic behavior, and hyperactivity/noncompliance subscale scores.
- Conclusion: Folinic acid could be recommended as a beneficial complementary supplement for alleviating speech and behavioral symptoms in children with ASD.