Research Programs: Completed Projects

Vitamin/Mineral Study

J.B. Adams, C.E. Holloway

Summary: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, 3-month treatment study of a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement (Brainchild's Spectrum Support) for children with autism.

Result: Statistically significant improvement in sleep and gastrointestinal problems, based on parental observations, and other possible improvements that were not statistically signficant.

Recommendation: Many children with autism can benefit from a specialized multi-vitamin/mineral supplement. See Advice section for detailed recommendations.

Vitamin Autism Paper August 4, 2003

Funded by Arizona State University, the Greater Phoenix Chapter of the ASA, and the FEAT chapter of Tucson.

This work was also summarized in a review paper presented at the annual meeting of the Autism Society of America, July 2003, as part of a presentation on nutritional status of children and adults with autism.

Nutritional Abnormalities in Autism, and the Effect of Nutritional Supplementation

James B. Adams, Ph.D., Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
Tapan Audhya, Ph.D., Vitamin Diagnostics, Cliffwood Beach, NJ
Emar Vogelaar, Ph.D., Autism Research and Treatment Center, The Netherlands

ASA 2003 Vitamin-Mineral Paper

Vitamin/Mineral Supplements for Children and Adults with Autism

James B. Adams, Ph.D. and Woody McGinnis, M.D.

(Review paper published in the Advocate, the newsletter of the Autism Society of America)

Vitamin/Mineral Supplement Study

table for paper

Hair Analysis of Children with Autism and their Mothers

J.B. Adams; C.E. Holloway; F. George; D. Quig

Results:

Iodine: Children with autism have low levels of iodine (needed for proper thyroid functioning and to prevent mental retardation). Iodine deficiency is the most common worldwide cause of mental retardation.
Lithium: Children with autism and their mothers have low levels of lithium, which is needed to prevent behavior problems.
Pica: Children with pica often had low chromium in their hair.
Low Muscle Tone: Children with autism and low muscle tone had low levels of potassium, which is needed for proper muscle function.

Preliminary Recommendations (more research needed):

Iodine supplementation (100 mcg/day) and lithium supplementation (500 mcg/day) during pregnancy may help prevent autism. Smaller doses for their children may help treat some of the symptoms of autism, including iodine for thyroid function and lithium for behavior problems.
Chromium supplementation might possibly help reduce pica.
Children with low muscle tone may benefit from increased potassium, preferably from fruits and vegetables, or from prescription supplements if necessary.

Hair Analysis July 14, 2003

tables for Paper

Funded by Arizona State University, the Greater Phoenix Chapter of the ASA, and the Pima County Chapter of the ASA.

Exposure to Heavy Metals, Physical Symptoms, and Developmental Milestones in Children with Autism

J.B. Adams, C.E. Holloway, M. Margolis, F. George

Summary: A questionnaire was used to assess heavy metal exposure in the mothers of children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) vs. controls. Four exposures were found to be statistically significant, including maternal seafood consumption, oral antibiotic use (which greatly decreases excretion of mercury), adverse reactions to vaccinations (many of which contain thimerosal), and pica (which leads to increased consumption of heavy metals).

Several major physical problems were much more common and severe in the ASD population, including chronic gastrointestinal problems, sleep problems, excessive ear infections, low muscle tone, and excessive salivation/drooling.

Finally, 62% of the children with ASD were reported to have developed normally, with normal developmental milestones, and then had a major regression at an average age of 18 months.

Exposure to Heavy Metals, Physical Symptoms, and Developmental Milestones July 14, 2003

Funded by Arizona State University, the Greater Phoenix Chapter of the ASA, and the Pima County Chapter of the ASA.

A Case-Control Study of Mercury Burden in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Bradstreet J, Geier DA, Kartzinel JJ, Adams JB, Geier MR. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons 8 (3) Summer 2003 76-79.

This study compared the mercury excretion of 221 children with autism vs. 18 neurotypical children after each group received DMSA (a chelating agent) for 3 days. The children with autism excreted 4x as much mercury, which was highly statistically significant (p < 0.0002). Lead and cadmium levels were also measured, but they were not statistically different. This suggests that children with autism have much higher levels of mercury in their bodies.

Mercury Burden in Autism