There are many different types of treatments that parents can try when they have a child with autism, however some can be controversial. Autism B12 vitamin therapy seems simple and safe enough, but it is important to be aware that problems may arise if it is administered improperly.
Perhaps the biggest danger in utilizing B12 vitamin therapy for the treatment of autism is the possibility of an overdose.
Vitamin Health
We all need vitamins, but is wrong to assume that these vitamins are safe no matter how they are used. Though vitamins are indeed good for us, with many being essential for optimum health, they can be dangerous too; particularly when someone takes too many.
The majority of the vitamins and minerals we need are obtained from a healthy varied diet. However when there is a deficiency in certain minerals or vitamins it is possible to supplement them.
The risk of taking supplements is that too much of a good thing can actually be harmful to health. When the body has an oversupply of vitamins that it can not use it excretes the excess via the liver. When excess vitamin consumption occurs on a regular basis, the liver may not keep up and the excess vitamin may then become a toxin that the body is unable to expel.
When taken in correct doses however, B12 vitamin therapy may be beneficial for a child with autism. Some believe that autism can be caused or symptoms worsened by severe nutritional deficiencies.
What this means is that the body is not receiving enough of certain vitamins, or that it is not able to absorb the nutrients that are fed through the system; causing the body to lack the essential elements it needs to function properly.
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin for healthy brain function. It is important in helping to manufacture the myelin sheath - a protective layer surrounding nerves in the brain - and it also helps the brain to produce neurotransmitters, which are vital for communication within the brain.
When taken intravenously, some feel that vitamin B12 therapy can improve a range of functions including the absorption of all essential nutrients into the body. This then helps the nervous system to work as it should, allowing potential benefits and improvements in behaviors to be seen.
On a cautionary note, so far, many positive stories about the improvement in individuals after receiving B12 vitamin therapy are still only anecdotal. While parents and individual doctors have noted some encouraging progress, there have only been a handful of controlled studies involving small groups of children regularly injected with vitamin B12. Though some have shown improvement in social communication, overall the results have deemed to be inconclusive.
Therefore, while formal tests are still in the early stages, if carried out safely, there is no reason why parents cannot try this autism B12 vitamin therapy under their doctor's close supervision and guidance. Even if there seems to be no improvement in the symptoms of autism, parents may notice better overall health in their children, and that may be reason enough to continue safely with the therapy.
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