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Video Transcript:
Aloha. I’m going to talk with you today about leucovorin and autism. Since 2011, I’ve been able to use my specialize medical training and clinical experience to help hundreds of children with autism get better. I’ve been prescribing leucovorin for 15 years to counteract a serious impairment shared by shared by 75% of children with autism. Folate receptor antibodies. I’ll get to those in a moment. Let’s get some clear definitions to start. The names are similar, but the consequences couldn’t be more different. Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9 and is only found in food – things like leafy green vegetables. Folic acid is a synthesized version of folate, it’s created in a laboratory. Folinic acid is derived from food. Leucovorin is a specialized version of folinic acid. Now we come back to those folate receptor antibodies, which are proteins made by the immune system. Most children’s brain’s aren’t hindered by the antibodies. But for children with autism, most forms of folate can’t get past the antibodies and into their brain. Worse yet, the synthetic form, folic acid, actually makes the condition worse. In short, children with autism have antibodies prevent most forms of folate from being absorbed by the brain. Folinic acid, prescribed under the name leucovorin, is the exception. It is able to bypass the blockages. Why does this matter? In early pregnancy folate is essential in the formation of the brain and spine. Without it, there can be speech and language delays, movement disorders, sleep disturbances, irritability and seizures. And, actually, throughout life, folate remains important for our nervous system to function properly. By including leucovorin as a part of our complete autism treatment protocol, I’ve seen some remarkable improvement in many, manay children. However, I will also stress that I think it is vitally important to work with a practitioner who understands autism. With autism, every child’s system is unique and requires advanced laboratory testing in order to arrive at the appropriate treatment protocols. With leucovorin, those tests help us to determine the appropriate dose over a certain time period. We then follow-up and regularly adjust the dosage. Parents may get lucky using it without oversight, but they might also get unlucky, and there are many examples of leucovorin making a child’s condition worse. They could become hyperactive, have more tantrums, worsening sleep patterns, and more repetitive and self-injurious behavior. In fact, here’s a word of caution about leucovorin tablets: The lowest dosage for one tablet is 5mg. But one tablet is actually a high dose. I never start children on the tablets. There is a liquid form, and I always start with one drop. That’s because one drop is one-seventh of the lowest dose leucovorin tablet. And it’s also the typical amount of folate you’d get in a substantial multivitamin. By starting on a low dose, the children are more able to tolerate it and the outcome is better. This is why, when it comes to leucovorin, it’s much, much safer and more effective to work with a doctor or practitioner who understands autism. That said, for many of the children I’ve treated, leucovorin can be like a miracle cure. There was a 2 year-old boy with only 15 words, just single words, not sentences. He also had frequent melt downs and tantrums. I started him on leucovorin as a part of my treatment protocol. I also worked with the family to start the boy on a gluten free, dairy free diet along with other measures to clear up his gut issues. Three months later, he started talking and his language continued to improve, and I could tell that came along with the leucovorin. A year and a half later, you couldn’t even tell he had autism. I’m also treating an older child, a 9 year-old girl with autism as well as ADHD – it was hard enough for her to pay attention and focus, but she also had hyperactivity and impulsivity. She could speak, but was only able to use simple words and form short sentences and had difficulty understanding what was told to her. I’ve been working with her and the family for 3 years, with leucovorin a part of our treatment protocol. We’ve gradually increased the dosage along the way, and I can definitely state that the leucovorin has helped her make steady improvement. Her language now is very close to being typical for her age. She also has a social life, engages in conversations, has friends, she can focus and is no longer is hyperactive or impulsive. In general, for children with autism, the best source for making sure their brain is getting enough folate are whole foods. Things like dark leafy greens, lentils, peas, beans, broccoli, nuts, and bananas. What you want to avoid are food products like bread, pasta and other fortified products. They are typically “fortified” with folic acid. In fact, with packaged foods of any kind, be sure to read the label carefully. Just about all the big food corporations use folic acid, which, as you now know, is not the form that will help a child with autism.. I trust our conversation about leucovorin and autism has been valuable for you. With our no-charge consultation, you’re welcome to talk with me personally about any health concerns you may have so that you, too, can be empowered with your health. Video Transcript:
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