Speech research — first_deficiency_report
FIRST DEFICIENCY REPORT
What nutrient deficiencies have credible evidence of affecting neurological, cognitive, developmental, speech, language, attention, sleep, or behavioral function?
Track A = correcting a CONFIRMED deficiency. Track B = supplementing WITHOUT documented deficiency. Grades never transfer between tracks.
iron
How deficiency is commonly evaluated (not a diagnosis): ferritin (immunoassay); hemoglobin (CBC); transferrin saturation (calculated (iron/TIBC)); serum iron (colorimetric); TIBC (colorimetric) AUTISM-SPECIFIC evidence — best grade D for cognition (2 studies). 2 uncontrolled/case-level studies. GENERAL PEDIATRIC evidence — best grade C for cognition (4 studies). Supplementation WITHOUT deficiency (Track B): grade A (92 studies)
essential fatty acids
How deficiency is commonly evaluated (not a diagnosis): plasma/whole-blood DHA+EPA fraction (GC-MS) AUTISM-SPECIFIC evidence — best grade C for GI symptoms (3 studies). 3 human studies, no RCT. GENERAL PEDIATRIC evidence: none meeting inclusion criteria. Supplementation WITHOUT deficiency (Track B): grade B (82 studies)
folate
How deficiency is commonly evaluated (not a diagnosis): serum folate (immunoassay); RBC folate (immunoassay); homocysteine (LC-MS/MS) AUTISM-SPECIFIC evidence — best grade C for general autism severity (1 studies). 1 RCT only. GENERAL PEDIATRIC evidence — best grade D for attention (1 studies). Supplementation WITHOUT deficiency (Track B): grade B (85 studies)
folinic acid
AUTISM-SPECIFIC evidence — best grade C for general autism severity (1 studies). 1 RCT only. GENERAL PEDIATRIC evidence: none meeting inclusion criteria. Supplementation WITHOUT deficiency (Track B): grade B (34 studies)
calcium
How deficiency is commonly evaluated (not a diagnosis): total serum calcium (colorimetric) AUTISM-SPECIFIC evidence — best grade C for general autism severity (1 studies). 1 RCT only. GENERAL PEDIATRIC evidence: none meeting inclusion criteria. Supplementation WITHOUT deficiency (Track B): grade C (23 studies)
vitamin B12
How deficiency is commonly evaluated (not a diagnosis): serum B12 (immunoassay); methylmalonic acid (LC-MS/MS); homocysteine (LC-MS/MS) AUTISM-SPECIFIC evidence — best grade D for GI symptoms (2 studies). 2 uncontrolled/case-level studies. GENERAL PEDIATRIC evidence — best grade D for attention (2 studies). Supplementation WITHOUT deficiency (Track B): grade B (74 studies)
vitamin D
How deficiency is commonly evaluated (not a diagnosis): 25-hydroxyvitamin D (LC-MS/MS or immunoassay) AUTISM-SPECIFIC evidence — best grade D for attention (1 studies). 1 uncontrolled/case-level study. GENERAL PEDIATRIC evidence — best grade D for cognition (1 studies). Supplementation WITHOUT deficiency (Track B): grade B (61 studies)
carnitine
How deficiency is commonly evaluated (not a diagnosis): plasma free carnitine (LC-MS/MS) AUTISM-SPECIFIC evidence — best grade D for attention (1 studies). 1 uncontrolled/case-level study. GENERAL PEDIATRIC evidence: none meeting inclusion criteria. Supplementation WITHOUT deficiency (Track B): grade B (29 studies)
zinc
How deficiency is commonly evaluated (not a diagnosis): plasma/serum zinc (AAS/ICP-MS) AUTISM-SPECIFIC evidence — best grade D for cognition (1 studies). 1 uncontrolled/case-level study. GENERAL PEDIATRIC evidence — best grade D for cognition (1 studies). Supplementation WITHOUT deficiency (Track B): grade B (60 studies)
copper
How deficiency is commonly evaluated (not a diagnosis): serum copper (AAS/ICP-MS); ceruloplasmin (nephelometry) AUTISM-SPECIFIC evidence — best grade D for cognition (1 studies). 1 uncontrolled/case-level study. GENERAL PEDIATRIC evidence — best grade D for cognition (1 studies). Supplementation WITHOUT deficiency (Track B): grade B (25 studies)
selenium
How deficiency is commonly evaluated (not a diagnosis): serum/plasma selenium (ICP-MS) AUTISM-SPECIFIC evidence: none meeting inclusion criteria in this database. GENERAL PEDIATRIC evidence — best grade D for cognition (1 studies). Supplementation WITHOUT deficiency (Track B): grade B (12 studies)
Do not diagnose. Do not start or stop supplements or medications without a clinician. Study doses are never personalized recommendations.