Stacking the Odds Against Autism

Autism is a devastating disease for everyone one involved. For young parents, having a child who’s unable to express emotions and fully communicate is just downright heartbreaking. Unfortunately, treating autism is extremely difficult and the outcome of medications and therapy are unpredictable – some kids do great and others can actually regress.

Your best option is prevention. And this begins during pregnancy. Let’s take a look at some of the current research for preventing autism during pregnancy. Although there are no guarantees, following these recommendations will at least stack the odds in a family’s favor.

Prenatal Vitamins Cut Risk by Half

Mothers who took prenatal vitamins three months before and during the first month of pregnancy had nearly half the risk of having a child with autism compared to mothers who did not take prenatal vitamins during this stage of pregnancy.¹

But consistency is the key. The researchers found that young moms who reported taking a prenatal vitamin daily or at least four days a week were the least likely to have a child with autism. Taking the supplement inconsistently doesn’t help to reduce the risk of autism.

By the way, a regular multivitamin showed no reduction in risk. Moms have to take a specific prenatal formula providing higher amounts of iron, B6, B12 folic acid, and the omega-3 fat DHA. A prenatal supplement should provide at least the following doses:

        *400 mcg of folic acid         

        *50 mcg of vitamin B12

        *20 mg of vitamin B6

        *15 mg of iron

        *100 mg of DHA (increase to 500 mg in the last half of pregnancy)

Some prenatal vitamins might be a little higher or a little lower – and that’s OK. Pregnant women should avoid the more generic products with significantly lower doses.

Avoiding Stress Reduces Risk

This is easier said than done, but the research is clear: Avoid stress to prevent autism.²Mood disorders, environmental toxins, pesticides, herbicides, car exhaust – all have been linked to an increase risk of autism.

Avoiding some of them is relatively easy. For instance, eating only organic food is a great way to avoid the pesticides and herbicides. Switching to all natural cleaners, soaps, and detergents can also help. Now others are hard to avoid, like air pollutants and car exhaust – unless you can move out of the city and into the country.

If moving is not an option, then try these natural detox supplements:

        *Increase protein intake and consider taking a protein supplement. Certain amino acids found in protein supplements can help the liver detox environmental toxins.

        *Milk thistle is a pregnancy-safe herb that improves liver function and its detox efforts.

        *Red raspberry leaf, green tea and lemon-balm are effective, safe mood stabilizers.

What Everyone Needs to Know

They can significantly reduce their child’s risk of autism by taking steps early during pregnancy. And, of course, this is the best bet to avoid raising an autistic child. Having a healthy child is a true blessing that requires proper prenatal care and supplementation.

References

1.       Schmidt, RJ, RL Hansen, J Hartiala, H Allayee, LC Schmidt, DC Tracredi, F Tassone and I Hertz-Picciotto. 2011. Prenatal vitamins, one-carbon metabolism gene variants and risk forautism.Epidemiology http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0b013e31821d0e30. 

2.       Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2008 October; 32(8): 1519–1532.