Is functional medicine a load of BS?

[whatifs1]

Keep seeing stuff floating around online about the use folinic acid AKA Leucovorin for children with autism and it improving communication and other symptoms associated with ASD. It was recently approved by the FDA for those with cerebral folate deficiency.

After reading (albeit not as throughly) it seems that some children with ASD have low uptake of folate for the brain due to some type of gene? Apparently there are a few private providers offering this test called FRAT to test for said gene.

Has anyone actually heard of this? Tried it? I have been “advised” to cut out all sorts from DD3 diet (I won’t be doing she is already massively limited as is) but it has got me thinking. They were also some random on social media who replied to a comment I made about DD3 having no speech/understanding.

or maybe I’m just desperate. Probably that tbf.AI

First thing to check is who said what and how are they qualified to say it. Then check if their colleagues have looked at their research and agreed.

The guy who linked MMR to autism was a crank and no one agreed....but it became "true"

So tread very carefully before you fanny around with diet...if giving supplements to young children check possible side effects

Edit to say I just re read your post and note it's private companies offering hmmmm🤔

I honestly have no idea but I'd be looking for a lot of good clinical trial results, and seeing what well qualified people in the field think.

I think scientific research is one thing and social media is another. If you think anything on social media has merit then you need to take its basic hypothesis and see if you can get it to stand up when you look at the peer-reviewed research in that area. Doctors don't know everything, for sure, but, having recently returned to facebook after a long hiatus, I can confidently say that social media is awash with utter bollocks designed to get you to buy dubious lotions and potions for everything and nothing.

Functional medicine is an approach to treating health conditions that tries to understand the root cause of the condition and treat that rather than just manage symptoms. So this is often making lifestyle changes, exercise, nutrition, more social connection.

I don’t think this is the same as taking a potentially off label pharmaceutical to treat a condition.

I know there are links of B12 and folate deficiency associated with autism. The question is whether the autism causes the deficiency, the deficiency causes the autism or if it’s just a coincidence because actually a lot of people don’t absorb these vitamins.

I am constantly low on my folate without supplements. I’m on B12 injections for life. I’m suspected ASD/ADHD (on
a waiting list for official testing).

My 18 year old son was diagnosed with B12 deficiency last year. He is ADHD/ASD. His folate was low, but not out of range.

I don’t expect the vitamins to help “cure” us, but I do think they can help manage some symptoms.

We had an ASD child at school who was being supplemented with folic acid and when he came off it his behaviour deteriorated.

I was looking at this recently, my daughter has Coeliac disease, and there is a strong correlation with ADHD and other autoimmune conditions. We took DD off gluten post diagnosis, and we found her attention, behaviour and focus massively improved. She also had reduced iron, folate and calcium at point of diagnosis. And then after a few months this was much better as she was able to absorb nutrients much better than when on gluten. So potentially her focus improved with the improved absorption of nutrients. Her paediatrician said that he feels all those diagnosed with adhd should be tested for coeliac disease. I mentioned this to the parents of her 2 friends with ADHD and they got tested and came back positive for coeliac.