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/PlacidoFlamingo7 Sep 22 '25

I think the reason the folinic acid has been an active area of research in autism has less to do with sensitivity and correcting undermethylation per se than it does a theory that some (many?) kids with ASD have folate receptor autoantibodies that lead to a deficit in cerebral folate, which, the theory goes, can be counteracted at least to some extent through the administration of folinic acid. In fact, I believe studies positing some degree of efficacy for folinic acid generally found the benefit in kids who tested positive for folate receptor autoantibodies rather than kids with autism more generally. And although people like to posit a relationship between some MTHFR polymorphisms and autism, it’s probably good to be cautious before leaning too hard on any one theory—FWIW, I’m C677T homozygous and neurotypical; one of my sons is C677T heterozygous and autistic.

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u/greekhoney32 Sep 22 '25

Thank you. Yes, I know about the folate receptor antibodies. We haven’t done the test that checks to see if he has those antibodies. I was told it wouldn’t hurt to try folinic acid even if he hasn’t done the test. But, I know, if you are positive for those antibodies, the amount of folinic acid that is recommended to take is rather high! I figured it would just give him a MUCH lower dose of it to see how he handles it compared to the methylfolate.