Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the brain. It typically appears during the first three years of a child's life, but it can occur later in childhood. The exact cause is unknown, but genetics, environmental stressors and brain damage appear to play significant roles in its development. Symptoms of autism include problems interacting with other children, impaired language skills, developmental delays, irritability, repetitive behaviors, lack of eye contact, oversensitivity to touch, light, or sound, aggression and a limited attention span. A variety of vitamins can help you manage your child’s autism symptoms.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that protects your child’s body from viruses, toxins, infections and diseases that worsen autism symptoms, according to Maureen Aarons, author of the book “Handbook of Autism: A Guide for Parents and Professionals.” Aarons explains that vitamin A also increases eye contact, improves the brain's ability to interpret sensory stimuli, reduces developmental delays, strengthens weak language skills and decreases repetitive movements such as rocking and hand clapping. Aarons recommends that autistic children, ages 3 to 8 years old, obtain 400 mcg of vitamin A daily to help manage their condition. Foods rich in vitamin A include eggs, spinach, kale, collard greens, squash, mangoes, carrots, canned pumpkin, sweet potatoes, milk, butter and fortified breakfast cereals.
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin that aids in neurotransmitter production, improves brain function, decreases repetitive movements, such as hand flapping, spinning and rocking, provides a sense of calmness, encourages eye contact, increases attention span and reduces developmental delays, according to Lisa Kurtz, author of the book “Understanding Controversial Therapies for Children with Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Other Learning Disabilities: A Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine.” Kurtz recommends that autistic children, ages 3 to 8 years old, receive 1.0 mg of vitamin B-6 daily to relieve autism symptoms. Foods rich in vitamin B-6 include fortified cereals, baked potatoes with skin, vegetable juice, light meat chicken, wild salmon, bananas and dry, roasted hazelnuts.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that strengthens your child’s immune system and protects your child’s body from damaging free radicals that can trigger autism, according to Elizabeth Strickland, author of the book "Eating for Autism.” Strickland explains that vitamin C also increases brain activity, improves language skills and reduces autism-related symptoms such as oversensitivity to touch, light, or sound, aggression and difficulty with social interactions. Strickland recommends that autistic children, ages 3 to 8 years old, obtain 25 mg of vitamin C daily to help improve their condition. Foods rich in vitamin C include cranberries, oranges, strawberries, kale, blueberries, collard greens, spinach, grapefruits, kiwi and pineapples.
Vitamins D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that supports healthy brain function, strengthens language skills, regulates brain activity, improves behavior, provides a sense of calmness, reduces oversensitive to light, sound and touch, increases eye contact and attention span and decreases aggression and irritability, according to Martine Ives and Nell Munro, authors of the book “Caring for a Child with Autism: Practical Guide for Parents.” Ives and Munro recommend that autistic children, ages 3 to 8 years old, acquire 15 mcg of vitamin D daily to help with their autism symptoms. Foods rich in vitamin D include pink salmon, cow’s milk, soy milk, eggs, fortified cereals, fortified orange juice, instant oatmeal and canned sardines.
References
- “Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders: Frequently Asked Questions”; Diane Yapko; 2003
- “Handbook of Autism: A Guide for Parents and Professionals”; Maureen Aarons; 1999
- “Understanding Controversial Therapies for Children with Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Other Learning Disabilities: A Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine”; Lisa A. Kurtz; 2008
- “Caring for a Child with Autism: Practical Guide for Parents”; Martine Ives and Nell Munro; 2001
- "Eating for Autism"; Elizabeth Strickland; 2009
