Study: Elevated homocysteine found in autistic children

A recent Polish study of 34 autistic and 21 non-autistic healthy children, found urinary levels of homocysteine to be significantly higher in the autistic children (2.36), when compared to non-autistic children (0.76). The higher level in autistic children may indicate deficiencies of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12. As we have long known in the biomed community, supplementing these micronutrients can improve homocysteine levels in this population as well as various symptoms of autism seen in many children. ("Homocysteine level in urine of autistic and healthy children," Kaluzna-Czaplinska J, Michalska M, et al, Acta Biochim Pol, 2011; 58(1): 31-4. (Address: Institute of General and Ecological Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland)