Efficacy of Folic Acid Supplementation in Autistic Children Participating in Structured Teaching: An Open-Label Trial.
Efficacy of Folic Acid Supplementation in Autistic Children Participating in Structured Teaching: An Open-Label Trial.
复制标题
补充叶酸对参与结构化教学的自闭症儿童的功效：一项开放标签试验
作者：
Sun C;Zou M;Zhao D;Xia W;Wu L
自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）被公认为是一个重大的公共卫生问题。在此，我们评估了叶酸干预对参与结构化教学的自闭症儿童甲基化循环和氧化应激的影响。66名自闭症儿童参与了这项开放性试验，并参加了为期三个月的结构化教学。其中44名儿童在结构化教学期间（干预组）接受400微克叶酸治疗（每日两次），持续三个月，而其余22名儿童在研究期间未接受任何补充剂（对照组）。在治疗期开始和结束时，分别采用自闭症治疗评估检查表（ATEC）和心理教育量表第三版（PEP - 3）进行测评。从干预组中随机选取29名自闭症儿童，在治疗前后测量其血浆中的叶酸、同型半胱氨酸和谷胱甘肽代谢情况，并与29名年龄匹配的正常发育儿童（典型发育组）进行比较。结果表明，叶酸干预改善了自闭症儿童在社交能力、认知语言/前语言、接受性语言以及情感表达与沟通方面的症状。此外，该治疗还提高了叶酸、同型半胱氨酸的浓度，并使谷胱甘肽氧化还原代谢恢复正常。补充叶酸可能在自闭症儿童的治疗中发挥一定作用。
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are recognized as a major public health issue. Here, we evaluated the effects of folic acid intervention on methylation cycles and oxidative stress in autistic children enrolled in structured teaching. Sixty-six autistic children enrolled in this open-label trial and participated in three months of structured teaching. Forty-four children were treated with 400 μg folic acid (two times/daily) for a period of three months during their structured teaching (intervention group), while the remaining 22 children were not given any supplement for the duration of the study (control group). The Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) and Psychoeducational Profile-third edition (PEP-3) were measured at the beginning and end of the treatment period. Folic acid, homocysteine, and glutathione metabolism in plasma were measured before and after treatment in 29 autistic children randomly selected from the intervention group and were compared with 29 age-matched unaffected children (typical developmental group). The results illustrated folic acid intervention improved autism symptoms towards sociability, cognitive verbal/preverbal, receptive language, and affective expression and communication. Furthermore, this treatment also improved the concentrations of folic acid, homocysteine, and normalized glutathione redox metabolism. Folic acid supplementation may have a certain role in the treatment of children with autism.