Folic acid helps children with autism communicate better.

Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9 or folate, is an essential vitamin for the body, particularly contributing to red blood cell production and helping the nervous and immune systems function properly.

Folic acid helps children with autism communicate better, and this is one of the achievements of medicine.

Children with autism often have difficulty communicating. (Illustrative image)

Autism spectrum disorder causes communication disorders.

In France, there are approximately 650,000 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Experts estimate that 1 in 100 newborns are born with autism, and boys are three times more likely to be affected than girls.

Autism is a condition that is still not fully understood. According to a 2012 survey by Opinion Way, 37% of French people believe it to be a psychological or mental illness...

In fact, this is a neurological disease, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is a serious early developmental disorder in children. Specifically, autism is a disease that affects the brain and causes disorders in communication, behavior, and especially in social relationships.

Some foods rich in folic acid that should be added to a child's diet include eggs, papaya, bananas, oranges, green vegetables, rice, green beans, etc.

Folic acid supplementation helps autistic children communicate better.

Researchers at the Arkansas Children's Research Institute in the US have found that folic acid supplementation may help children with autism communicate better. To reach this conclusion, the scientists surveyed 47 children with autism spectrum disorder, with an average age of 7 and a half years, 80% of whom were boys, and divided them into two groups.

Over 12 weeks, children in group 1 received folic acid supplementation (50 mg maximum per day) while group 2 received a placebo. After 12 weeks, researchers found that children who received folic acid supplementation showed significantly better communication skills than the other children, particularly in language development.

The research was published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Folic acid, scientifically known as vitamin B9, is also called "folate" and is an essential vitamin for the body. It plays a crucial role in red blood cell production, helps the nervous and immune systems function properly, and participates in wound healing. Some studies suggest that this vitamin may lower blood pressure, enhance the effects of antidepressants, and slow cognitive decline.

If available as a dietary supplement, this vitamin is also found in pork liver, veal, lamb, spinach, asparagus, flaxseed, etc. The recommended dose is 200 µg per day for children aged 4-8 years.

According to Health & Life