A quarterly publication of the Autism Research Institute
Fall, 2023 | Number 4, Volume 37
A new study from Turkey suggests that supplementation with n-acetylcysteine, the synthetic form of the amino acid cysteine, may lead to improvements in a number of symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children.
Kevser Nalbant and Semih Erden reviewed the medical records of 37 children with ASD who regularly took oral NAC (in two doses totaling 400 to 600 mg per day) for eight weeks, as well as a control group of 21 children with ASD who did not take NAC. All of the children were between three and six years of age. Using multiple assessments, the researchers evaluated the children’s symptoms at baseline and at the end of the eight weeks.
The researchers say, “Our findings suggested that oral NAC alleviated the intensity of cardinal autistic symptoms in areas of social withdrawal, interpersonal relationships, body use, listening response, and verbal communication. Corresponding problem behaviors such as irritability, stereotypic behavior, and hyperactivity were reduced.” However, they saw no difference between the two groups in terms of eating behaviors and sleeping habits.
The researchers caution that limitations of their study include its retrospective design and the lack of a placebo control, and they say that larger controlled studies on the use of NAC in ASD are needed. However, they note that several other studies have shown beneficial effects of NAC for children with ASD, especially in reducing irritability
“Possible effects of N-acetylcysteine in autism spectrum disorders: major clinical aspects, eating behaviors, and sleeping habits,” Kevser Nalbant and Semih Erden, Turkish Journal of Pediatrics, September-October 2023 (free online). Address: Kevser Nalbant, [email protected].
