Leucovorin – Folic Acid to the Rescue in Autism

Leucovorin is very expensive, a pharmaceutical form of folic acid. Typically this drug is RX’d to those who show a reaction on FRAT testing.

What is FRAT Testing: “Fratnow’s FRAT® measures the presence of antibodies that interact (either block or bind) with the activity of the Folate Receptor A (FRA). FRA is responsible for the transport of folate – and its active component 5-MTHF which helps metabolize folate – into certain tissues, most notably the brain, placenta, and ovary. These antibodies were detected in the blood of numerous individuals with disorders ranging from Cerebral Folate Deficiency, Autism Spectrum Disorders, sub-fertility in women, and pregnant women carrying fetuses with neural tube defects (NTD). Additionally, antibodies have been found in the parents of some children with ASD.”

After showing positive for Folate Receptor Antibodies, we started on leucovorin 10 mg and eventually titrated up to 50 mg twice a day over the course of 2 years. Unfortunately once again this proved to not yield any remarkable or recognizable results. When B finally stopped taking it one day and never resumed, nothing changed. No changes were observed in any area of cognition or behavior.

Read why Leucovorin is used in Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Soluble Folate Receptor in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Relation to Autism Severity and Leucovorin Treatment: 

Our daughter was rx’d Deplin after being given a positive FRAT result – we decline to give this medication after reading through the ingredients and wondering why it needed to be bright orange. We have continued on straightforward folic acid for her but only at 10 mg once per day.