Autism & Prenatal Vitamins

Autism falls under the category of pervasive developmental disorders in childhood. This means that children with autism show a "substantial delay in communication and social interaction associated with development of restricted, repetitive and stereotyped behavior, interests and activities," according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). Children with autism have issues with play, social interaction and language that are noticeable before age 3. Given the breadth of areas autism affects, scientists are interested in how vitamins and nutrients play a role.

Folic Acid and Autism

Folic acid has long been a staple of prenatal vitamins. Scientists at the Mayo Clinic have examined the role of folic acid in the development of autism. Specifically, they wondered if too much folic acid in prenatal vitamins correlated with autism. In the study, which was published in a 2011 version of "Medical Hypotheses," the researchers looked at prevalence of autism in children whose mothers had taken prenatal vitamins with excessive folic acid by examining the Rochester Epidemiological Project between 1976 and 1997. Though their results were not conclusive, they did find some correlation between excessive folate and incidence of autism in one small community.

Herbs, Vitamins and Autism: A Case Study

In 2011, doctors in Spain published a case study in the "Journal of Medical Case Reports." The case detailed the circumstances of a child with autism whose mother had prenatally ingested the weight loss herb horsetail, scientifically known as Equisetum arvense. This particular herb contains thiaminase, which is known to cause vitamin deficiency. Additionally, the mother admitted to losing large amounts of weight during pregnancy, as well as drinking alcohol. In their discussion of the patient, the researchers suggest the improper use of herbs and lack of vitamins prenatally may cause autism.

Vitamins and General Health

Making a statement about general health and vitamins, doctors in the Untied Kingdom created a document called "The Declaration of Nutrition, Health and Intelligence for the Child-to-be." The paper, which was published in a 2007 edition of the journal "Nutrition and Health" discusses the importance of various vitamins and minerals in the protection against developmental disorders, neural tube defects and autism. Specifically, the scientists suggest diets rich in B vitamins, antioxidants and folic acid. In terms of minerals, they mention iron, copper and zinc, among others. Their main statement revolves around the idea that vitamins and good nutrition offer protection for children.

Putting It All Together

As of June 2011, there are no conclusive studies leading to FDA approval for specific vitamins for the treatment of autism. Similarly, the role of prenatal vitamins in the development of autism is not well-understood. As such, expectant mothers should follow nutritional guidelines as prescribed by a doctor.