Autism Therapy: tryptophan

This article gives an overview of research on alternative and complementary therapies for autism.

Many parents of children with autism are interested in complementary and alternative medical therapies (CAM). The authors of this article suggest that this could be because these methods are perceived as treating the cause, rather than the symptoms, of the disorder. The authors divide CAM approaches to autism into two groups: biologic and non-biologic treatments. Biologic treatments use nutritional supplements or dietary restrictions to change the physical processes underlying autism, while non-biologic treatments are intended to change behaviors without altering the diet. The article describes the scientific evidence for and against the use of many biologic treatments, including: food restrictions based on allergies; gluten- and casein-free diets; yeast-free diets; vitamin C; folate; vitamin B6; tryptophan, oxytocin; and essential fatty acids (EFAs). The non-biologic treatments described in the article are: auditory integration training; behavioral optometry; craniosacral manipulation; and facilitated communication.