Nutritional Supplements

Nutritional Supplements for People on the Autism Spectrum





Tips on giving nutritional supplements

 It really helps to have a medical professional guide you through the maze.

Consider Dr. Bryan Jepson or one of the nutritionists, at Thoughtful House,

www.thoughtfulhouse.org.

 Be sure that all supplements are gluten-free and casein-free, and free of anything

else that your child is allergic or intolerant to. If your child has a bad reaction,

they may be reacting to colors, sweeteners, flavorings, or soy in the supplement;

if so, try a “cleaner” version of the same supplement.

 Most supplements are best taken with food, but most probiotics are probably

best given at least two hours away from digestive enzymes.

 Usually it is best to only introduce one supplement at a time, so you can see how

your child reacts to it. Wait until your child is stabilized on it before you add

another supplement.

 Keep a log of when you introduce a supplement (with brand and dosage), or

change the brand or dosage, and how your child reacts.

 Just because a supplement is not good for your child at one time, does not mean

that it might not be good for them at another time, either because of changes in

their body, or because you are giving it in combination with different

supplements.

 Parents should also take some supplements if they are to make it through the

journey, especially a good multi-vitamin, calcium/magnesium, and an omega-3

fatty acid supplement.





Nutritional supplements to try or to consider - This is just a selective list. There are lots

more that may help your child.

 Digestive Enzymes - Giving digestive enzymes at the beginning of every meal

helps break down food into usable nutrients, including any gluten or casein that

might have inadvertently gotten into the food. Some of the major brands are

Kirkman, Houston Nutraceuticals, and DigestRight from Learner’s Edge.

 Probiotics - We all have beneficial bacteria living in our gastrointestinal tracts.

These help us digest our food and absorb nutrients. Kids on the spectrum have

trouble maintaining a healthy level of these beneficial bacteria, so

supplementation with probiotics can be important. Make sure that your

probiotics are not grown on whey or other dairy products. Some doctors say they

are best given at least two hours away from digestive enzymes. Some of the

major brands are Kirkman and Klaire.

 Essential Fatty Acids - Omega-3 fatty acids are very important for kids on the

spectrum. Be sure to only use fish oil that has been tested for mercury. Give







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EFA’s only in the morning, so that they do not interfere with sleep. Some of the

major brands are Thorne and Nordic Naturals.

 Hydrogenated Oils - AVOID hydrogenated oils (trans fat) in the diet, which are

very bad for all of us, but especially bad for kids on the spectrum. Look for

cooking oils that are expeller pressed or cold pressed.

 Cod Liver Oil - Cod liver oil can help tremendously with eye contact. It is one of

the few sources of the cis form of vitamin A, which is believed to reconnect the

retinoid receptors in the brain. Use a cod liver oil that has been tested free of

mercury. Give it only in the morning, so that it does not interfere with sleep. One

of the major brands is Kirkman.

 Multi-Vitamin Multi-Mineral - A good multi-vitamin multi-mineral can get a

lot of the important vitamins and minerals into your child in an efficient way, as

well as include some of the trace elements that they only need in small amounts.

Be sure to use a multi-vitamin that does not contain copper, as kids on the autism

spectrum tend to have unbalanced zinc to copper ratios. It’s best to give these

only with breakfast or lunch, as some vitamins given later in the day can

interfere with sleep. Some of the major multi-vitamins are Kirkman Nu-Thera

with P5P and Child Essence from Learner’s Edge. A good multi-mineral such as

Thorne Citramin II may also help with Pica (chewing on non-food items).

 Methylcobalamin (Methyl B-12) and Folinic Acid

Methylcobalamin (the methyl form of Vitamin B-12) can be a powerful thing for

kids on the autism spectrum. It is not absorbed well when given orally, and is

best given by injection into a muscle or through a nose spray, but injections are

more effective than nose spray. (Injections can be given by parents at home.) The

nose spray is available by prescription from Coastal Compounding in Savannah,

Georgia (912-354-5188). The injections are available from People’s Pharmacy by

prescription.

In healthy kids, folic acid is turned into folinic acid before the body can use it.

Doctors think kids on the autism spectrum may have trouble with this

conversion, and that it is better to give them folinic acid. Folinic acid works

synergistically with methyl B-12, and can be combined with methyl B-12 in an

injection or nose spray.

Methyl B-12 and folinic acid are also available in capsule or liquid form from

Kirkman. Give them at breakfast or lunch so they do not interfere with sleep.

 Vitamin B-6 - Vitamin B-6 was one of the first nutritional supplements that was

found to help kids on the autism spectrum. Most of the multi-vitamins

formulated for kids on the spectrum will contain it. It’s best to give B-6 only with

breakfast or lunch, as it can interfere with sleep if given later in the day. P5P is a

preferred form of B-6. Kirkman is a good brand.

 Vitamin E - Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant. It is also important in

supporting immune response and may play a role in allergic response. Taken at

dinner, vitamin E can help with sleep. Kirkman is a good brand.







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 Calcium and Magnesium - Calcium and magnesium help to calm kids and

improve their sleep. They work together, and are often found in the same

capsule or tablet. Calcium is one of the few nutritional supplements that is

unaffected by heat, and you can get it from Kirkman Labs in powdered form and

cook with it. Magnesium tends to soften stools, and calcium tends to harden

them. They are often contained in small amounts in multi-vitamins. Calcium and

magnesium can be given any time of day, and can be given at bedtime to

improve sleep (but multi-vitamins should be given earlier in the day). Thorne is

also a good brand.

 Zinc - Kids on the autism spectrum generally have an out-of-balance copper to

zinc ratio, with too much copper and not enough zinc. Zinc can have a calming

effect, too. It can be given any time of day. Kirkman is a good brand.

 Chromium – Chromium given before meals can help with sugar craving.

Kirkman is a good brand.

 TMG or DMG - Kids on the spectrum have a methylation problem. TMG

(trimethylglycine) or DMG (dimethylglycine) give them the methyl groups they

need. They work with folinic acid to complete a chemical chain reaction in their

bodies. Kirkman is a good brand.

 Taurine - Our digestive systems break down our food into amino acids, which

are the building blocks of our bodies. Taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid

that plays a calming role as a neurotransmitter, has antioxidant properties, and is

needed for proper bilary function. Thorne and Kirkman are good brands.

 Melatonin - Melatonin makes us sleepy. Our bodies make melatonin naturally,

but most kids on the autism spectrum don’t have enough in their bodies.

Kirkman Labs makes a Slo-Release Melatonin that is released slowly over the

course of the night. Give melatonin only at bedtime. It is also a strong

antioxidant that is really good for our kids.

 Glutathione - Glutathione is in every cell of our bodies, but kids on the autism

spectrum don’t have enough of it. Glutathione is not absorbed well when given

orally, and should be given transdermally on the skin, by infusion into a blood

vessel, or by breathing it using a nebulizer. It can be given any time of the day.

The liquid form used in a nebulizer is available by prescription from McGuff

Pharmacy in Santa Ana, CA (877) 444-1133.





Major supplement brands

 Houston Nutraceuticals

 Kirkman Labs

 Klaire Labs

 Learner’s Edge

 Nordic Naturals







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 Pure Encapsulations

 Thorne Research





Where to buy nutritional supplements

 Allergy Supply Company – allergysupply.com – (800) 323-6744 – sells nebulizers

 Family Pharmacy of Sarasota - ssl.familypharmacy.net – (888) 245-5000 –sells

Thorne, Nordic Naturals, Klaire, and lots of other brands

 Houston Nutraceuticals – houstonni.com – (866) 757-8627 – specializes in

digestive enzymes for kids on the autism spectrum

 Kirkman Labs - www.kirkmanlabs.com – (800) 245-8282 - specializes in all kinds

of nutritional supplements for kids on the autism spectrum, and will talk to you

about dosage, etc.

 Learner’s Edge - www.learners-edge.com – (877) 585-3699 – has a short list of

excellent products for kids on the spectrum

 People’s Pharmacy – www.peoplesrx.com - numerous locations in Austin – sales

people knowledgeable, be sure to ask for gluten-free casein-free supplements

 Thoughtful House - www.thoughtfulhouse.org – (512) 732-8400 - 3001 Bee Caves

Road, Austin 78746 – medical clinic for the treatment of autism





Ways to give nutritional supplements

 Open capsules and mix contents with food or beverage

 Swallow capsules intact

 Rubbing a transdermal cream on the skin

 Injecting it into a muscle (can be done by parents at home)

 Infusing it into a blood vessel, by either a relatively quick “push,” or a slow drip

(requires a doctor)

 Breathing in a mist containing the supplement, using a nebulizer

 Nose spray





Books

 “Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and

Allergies,” by Kenneth Bock, M.D.

 “Changing the Course of Autism,” by Bryan Jepson, M.D.

 “PDR for Nutritional Supplements,” available from Kirkman Labs

 “Earl Mindell’s New Vitamin Bible,” by Earl Mindell and Hester Mundis 9/2/2009







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