We are complex organisms, affected by the interplay between our exposome and our nutritional status in light of our genetics. Children with autism don’t appear by random chance, like a number drawn out of a hat, but as a result of their genetics interacting with what enters their bodies whether for good or for bad. While we cannot alter our children’s genetics to address any of the genes increasing autism risk, we can modify the toxins they are exposed to and the nutrients they or their mothers receive. In this study, the interplay between high lead levels in the pregnant mom and low level of folate during the pregnancy appears to increase autism risk.
As always, new research must build on prior research findings of others. In this case, several observational studies revealed correlations between the levels of lead during pregnancies and the occurrence of autism in the children. Other studies had suggested that folate could lower the impact of toxins during pregnancy on children’s neurodevelopment. They note in the article that such connections were found with phthalates, air pollutants, and pesticides. The study authors could not find research on the interplay of folate and lead in contributing to autism.
To answer this question, they used a cohort of over 600 pregnant Canadian women whose children were later diagnosed with autism. Rather than looking at the rates of autism in the general population based on lead levels, they looked at children with autism to see if folate levels in the mom had any effects on the severity of autism. They went one step further and evaluated how the genetic mutation MTHFR 677 modified these effects.
Ultimately, they did find correlations between the levels of folate in blood and maternal intake during the first trimester but minimal to none during the third trimester when looking at the severity of autism on a specific scale. Interestingly, increasing the levels of folate did not lower severity once a certain minimum was reached. There appears to be a critical window of opportunity for the folate to protect the baby’s brain.
In regards to the effects of MTHFR 677, results were mixed. Having the variant copies of the gene which processes the methylation cycle had a trend towards effect but was not statistically significant. In case you are wondering, they did not look at whether this gene increased the rate of overall autism or severity. That would be a question for a different study. At this point, the data simply tells us that getting at least 400mcg of folate lowered autism severity in children exposed to lead, whether or not MTHFR was present.
Helping our patients and their future children achieve healthier, more abundant lives requires thinking through all the factors going into their bodies’ functioning. As this research shows, lowering toxin-exposure and ensuring adequate nutrients for moms before and during pregnancy helps to reduce the chances and severity autism.
Original Article:
Joshua D. Alampi, Bruce P. Lanphear, Amanda J. MacFarlane, Youssef Oulhote, Joseph M. Braun, Gina Muckle, Tye E. Arbuckle, Jillian Ashley-Martin, Janice M.Y. Hu, Aimin Chen, Lawrence C. McCandless. Combined Exposure to Folate and Lead during Pregnancy and Autistic-Like Behaviors among Canadian Children from the MIREC Pregnancy and Birth Cohort. Environmental Health Perspectives, 2024; 132 (10) DOI: 10.1289/EHP14479
Thanks to Science Daily:
Simon Fraser University. “Folic acid may mitigate link between lead exposure during pregnancy and autistic behaviours in children.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 October 2024. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241016120910.htm>.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.