A preliminary trial of ascorbic acid as supplemental therapy for autism.

Investigated the effectiveness of ascorbic acid as a supplemental pharmacological treatment for 18 autistic children (age 6–19 yrs) in residential treatment in a 30-wk double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ss were randomly assigned to either an ascorbate-ascorbate-placebo treatment order group or ascorbate-placebo-ascorbate treatment order group. Each treatment phase lasted 10 wks, and behaviors were rated weekly using the Ritvo-Freeman scale. Significant group by phase interactions were found for total scores and for sensory motor scores, thus indicating a reduction in symptom severity associated with the ascorbic acid treatment. Results are consistent with a hypothesized dopaminergic mechanism of action of ascorbic acid. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)