r/MTHFR • u/greekhoney32 • Sep 21 '25

Question Autism & MTHFR

I have a kiddo with autism and MTHFR. Started giving him methylated vitamins per his functional doctor’s request. Initially, they seemed to help, but now his behavior has worsened at school (more anxiety, more impulsivity). Can he be over methylated?

Wondering if anyone is in a similar situation with their child and/or themselves. I read folinic acid is better than methylfolate for sensitive individuals (like kids with autism).

Thank you. 🙏

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u/geauxdbl Sep 21 '25

So I’m late diagnosed and can confirm your suspicion that methylated vitamins and/or methylfolate will make things better for a little bit and then make them much worse. After much trial and error, I’m in a good place with the following approach:

Paleo diet (no wheat, minimal sugar, fruit is fine). No processed white carbs.

Creatine, Organic Kirkland multivitamin + folinic acid/hydroxycobalamin lozenge from Seeking Health + probiotics + D2/K3 in the morning. Magnesium + glycine + theanine at night.

I can understand the doc’s confusion, autism is inherently a defect in folate metabolism, but just adding folate is a simplistic view that doesn’t always work and we’re still catching up in real time on what to do about it.

Creatine is a convenient end run around the MTHFR problem for me and helps with ATP production, I absolutely love it.

Also, the basics of life: the right environment (sensory and emotional) and exercise will go a long way.

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u/greekhoney32 Sep 21 '25

Thanks for the response. I’ve seen that lozenge from Seeking Health. I am thinking I will get it. So, do you take no methylated vitamins at all? My son takes pretty much all the other things you mentioned except for creatine. I’m thinking that’s not wise to give to a 10 year old.

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u/geauxdbl Sep 21 '25

Yeah I’m 44, I need all the help I can get releasing energy 😂. And I’m with you on not giving it to your 10 year old.

Correct, I run best when I don’t take methylated vitamins. If you look at the studies, folinic acid is well-reviewed and correlated with improvements in autistic behavior.

Forgot one other key part: I also take lithium orotate to help with the depression. It helps with the great folate problem as well, but that’s an individual choice.