ascorbic-acid and Autistic-Disorder

Topics: Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Autistic Disorder; Black or African American; Child; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Male; Osteomyelitis; Risk Factors; Scurvy; Treatment Outcome

1. This study presents the results of a 30-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial exploring the effectiveness of ascorbic acid (8g/70kg/day) as a supplemental pharmacological treatment for autistic children in residential treatment. 2. Residential school children (N = 18) were randomly assigned to either ascorbate-ascorbate-placebo treatment order group or ascorbate-placebo-ascorbate treatment order group. Each treatment phase lasted 10 weeks and behaviors were rated weekly using the Ritvo-Freeman scale. 3. Significant group by phase interactions were found for total scores and also sensory motor scores indicating a reduction in symptom severity associated with the ascorbic acid treatment. 4. These results were consistent with a hypothesized dopaminergic mechanism of action of ascorbic acid.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Autistic Disorder; Child; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

Limping is a common chief complaint in the pediatric emergency department (ED) and can be difficult to assess in pediatric patients, particularly if they have developmental delay.. We present a case of a 5-year-old male with nonverbal autism who presented with a progressive limp, weakness, pain, and rash over the course of 1 month. A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the pelvis performed while the patient was sedated revealed multifocal osseous marrow signal abnormalities, ultimately consistent with vitamin C deficiency or scurvy. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Scurvy can present with nonspecific limp, rash, and bony pain and should be considered in pediatric patients with developmental/sensory delay who may restrict their diets. Emergency physicians should broaden their differential diagnoses to nutritional deficiencies such as scurvy in the evaluation of pediatric patients with limp.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Autistic Disorder; Child; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Scurvy

Ten patients with scurvy were evaluated by rheumatology; we review their clinical, laboratory, and dietary presentations. Eight patients had developmental delay or autism. All had elevated inflammatory markers. These clinical and laboratory features with imaging findings can mimic rheumatic conditions such as arthritis, vasculitis, and chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO).

Topics: Adolescent; Arthritis, Juvenile; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Autistic Disorder; Child; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Child, Preschool; Diagnosis, Differential; Diet; Female; Humans; Inflammation; Male; Musculoskeletal Pain; Osteomyelitis; Rheumatology; Scurvy; Vasculitis; Young Adult

Pulmonary hypertension in children is commonly caused by underlying cardiac and pulmonary disease. Within the past 10 years, scurvy has been identified as a cause for pulmonary hypertension. We describe the case of a 3-year-old autistic boy with undiagnosed scurvy who was scheduled for cardiac catheterization. Immediately after induction, the patient became hemodynamically unstable, which worsened with administration of nitrous oxide. Cardiac catheterization revealed pulmonary hypertension, which dramatically improved with administration of vitamin C. Anesthesiologists should be aware that scurvy is more common than previously thought, even in developed countries and can cause unexpected circulatory collapse from pulmonary hypertensive crisis.

Topics: Anesthesia, General; Ascorbic Acid; Autistic Disorder; Cardiac Catheterization; Child, Preschool; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Male; Nitrous Oxide; Scurvy; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Adolescent; Arthralgia; Ascorbic Acid; Autistic Disorder; Diagnosis, Differential; Exanthema; Humans; Male; Scurvy

Scurvy was diagnosed in seven children at Boston Children's Hospital. All of the children had a developmental disorder and autism was the most common. They had a long-standing history of food selectivity with diets devoid of fruits and vegetables, and none of the children were supplemented with a multivitamin. They presented with limp, and an elaborate panel of tests and procedures were undertaken before the diagnosis of scurvy was made. Treatment with vitamin C led to rapid recovery of symptoms. This report emphasizes the importance of considering nutritional causes of musculoskeletal symptoms in children with autism and restrictive diets.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Autistic Disorder; Child; Child, Preschool; Food Preferences; Humans; Male; Scurvy; Vitamins

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Autistic Disorder; Child; Down Syndrome; Humans; Male; Purpura; Scurvy

Topics: Arthritis; Ascorbic Acid; Autistic Disorder; Calcinosis; Child; Gingival Hypertrophy; Humans; Knee Joint; Male; Radiography; Scurvy

We present a case of scurvy in a 6-year-old boy with autism and an unbalanced diet. The patient was admitted with difficulties in walking. Magnetic resonance imaging findings of the thigh showed diffuse signal abnormality in the bone marrow, periosteum, and the femoral muscle. A biopsy specimen of the femur showed hematoma, proliferative fibroblasts, and few collagen fibers, which suggested a deficiency of vitamin C. Although recurrent periosteal hematoma may be suggestive of scurvy, this finding was subtle in the current case. It is important to be aware of this rare disease because it is easily cured with vitamin C supplementation.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Autistic Disorder; Child; Femur; Hematoma; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Prognosis; Scurvy; Thigh

Measurement of oxidative stress and antioxidant-related parameters (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) in Saudi autistic children.. 30 autistic children (22 males and 8 females) aged 3-15 years (25/30 of these were below 8 years old), and 30 healthy children as control group were included in this study. Levels of lipid peroxides, vitamin E, vitamin C, glutathione together with enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase were determined in plasma while superoxide dismutase (SOD was measured in red blood cells of both groups.. Lipid peroxidation was found to be significantly higher in autistic compared to control Saudi children. On the other hand, vitamin E and glutathione were remarkably lower in autistic patients while vitamin C shows non-significant lower values. Regarding the enzymatic antioxidants, both glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly higher in autistic compared to control while catalase recorded more or less similar activities in both groups.. Saudi autistic children are under H(2)O(2) stress due to GSH depletion, over expression of SOD together with the unchanged catalase enzyme. This could be helpful in the early diagnosis of young autistic patients and suggesting the possibility of antioxidant supplementation for the early intervention with autistic children.

Topics: Adolescent; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Asian People; Autistic Disorder; Biomarkers; Case-Control Studies; Catalase; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Glutathione; Glutathione Peroxidase; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Oxidative Stress; Saudi Arabia; Superoxide Dismutase; Vitamin E

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Autistic Disorder; Bone and Bones; Bone Marrow; Child; Diagnosis, Differential; Exanthema; Gingival Hypertrophy; Humans; Male; Osteomyelitis; Pain; Radiography; Rheumatic Diseases; Scurvy; Skin

The recent upsurge in megavitamin therapy raises questions about the role of vitamin deficiencies and dependencies in mental health. With this in mind, the plasma levels of folic acid, ascorbic acid, pyridoxine, and riboflavin were studied in approximately 125 children admitted to a child psychiatric unit. There were no apparent decreased levels of vitamins in these children in terms of their age, race, or psychiatric diagnosis. It is postulated that vitamin deficiencies per se cannot be proposed as etiological factors in any of the psychiatric deficits represented. Megavitamin therapy, if successful, is not effective due to crrection of vitamin deficiencies as opposed to vitamin dependencies and may be due to the metabolic onus and consequent effects of such heavy doses of vitamins.

Topics: Adolescent; Affective Symptoms; Ascorbic Acid; Autistic Disorder; Child; Child Behavior Disorders; Child, Preschool; Folic Acid; Humans; Intellectual Disability; Male; Orthomolecular Therapy; Psychotic Disorders; Pyridoxine; Riboflavin; Schizophrenia

Topics: Adult; Aging; Ascorbic Acid; Autistic Disorder; Child; Child, Preschool; Diet; Drug Stability; Edetic Acid; Fasting; Fluorometry; Humans; Methods; Serotonin