Folinic Acid and Autism: A Closer Look at the Research
I’m writing this from the sidelines of my kid’s soccer practice, so if you hear birds or chaos in the background… that’s real life happening. But I had to talk through this paper that’s been buzzing through my inbox and popping up in physician Facebook groups. And honestly—it’s exciting stuff.
We love caring for autistic children in our practice and finding any ways we can to help them and their families thrive.
Autistic children & adults deserve support and advocacy. Their voices matter and their presence makes our whole world so much better.
Today, we’re looking at oral folinic acid supplementation in children with autism.
Watch the video above for my full walk-through.
This recent study (published in 2024) is the kind of thing that makes you stop and go, “Wait, why aren’t we all talking about this more?”
🚨 The Punchline
Folinic acid supplementation is effective and safe in improving ASD symptoms.
That’s not just me saying it—that’s the conclusion of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. In science speak: the gold standard.
🧪 Let’s Break It Down
This wasn’t a throwaway pilot study. Here's what made it stand out:
80 kids participated—roughly half received folinic acid, half placebo.
24 weeks of treatment, with evaluations at 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks.
They used validated tools like the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the CBCL (Child Behavior Checklist) to measure outcomes.
Results were statistically significant with p-values as low as 0.001. That’s a 0.1% chance the improvements were random.
What did they find?
Significant improvement in autism severity, behavioral issues, verbal communication, and daily living skills.
Kids in the folinic acid group improved regardless of whether they had folate receptor antibodies—a huge point, since testing for those antibodies is expensive and sometimes invasive.
✅ Safety Profile
Folinic acid is a vitamin—a downstream, activated form of folic acid.
No major side effects were reported. Some earlier studies noted agitation or GI symptoms, but those faded quickly in both treatment and placebo groups. Bottom line: it’s well tolerated.
Watch the video above for my full walk-through.
🤔 But Is It a Magic Pill?
Of course not.
But it’s a compelling tool in the toolbox for pediatricians and families navigating autism care. And the more I dig into it, the more I believe it’s something we should be considering, especially for kids who might not be thriving yet on standard therapies alone.
💭 Why This Matters
For years, we’ve known that folate metabolism and oxidative stress are involved in neurodevelopment.
Folate receptor antibodies are far more common in children with autism—up to 40%, compared to ~3% in other neurodevelopmental delays.
This study didn’t just confirm that theory. It showed that even without testing, folinic acid made a difference.
✋ If You're Thinking...
“This sounds like something my child might benefit from...”
You're not alone. I’ve already started calling pharmacies to find out who can supply this safely and consistently.
And I’m not the only one. I’ve spoken to pediatrician friends and developmental pediatricians who are already using folinic acid in their practices with very positive results.
📍 If You're Nearby (or Even in a Nearby States…)
We’d love to help your child.
This is exactly the kind of thoughtful, evidence-backed support we bring to families every day.
👉 Click here to learn how we support autistic children and their families.
Let’s figure out what support might help your child thrive.
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