ARI Publication 40 – 2013 Version

Research – Treatment
One study [Waring and Klovsra 2000] also reported high levels of urinary sulfite in children with
autism, suggesting that there was a problem of converting sulfite to sulfate in the mitochondria. In
38% of cases (14/38) urinary sulfite and sulfate levels improved by giving 50 mcg of molybdenum
(an essential mineral), presumably since the enzyme for converting sulfite to sulfate (sulfite
oxidase) contains molybdenum.

One study [Adams et al 2011] involved treatment with a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement that
included molybdenum and MSM. After three months of treatment, there was a substantial increase
in both free and total sulfate in the plasma, but levels were still below normal. This suggests that
additional treatment, such as Epsom salt baths, are necessary to normalize sulfate levels.

References

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Waring RH, Ngong JM, Klovrza L, Green .s;. Sharp H: Biochemical Parameters in Autistic Children. Dev Brain
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Geier DA, Kern JK, Garver CR, Adams JB, Audhya T, Geier MR: A prospective study oftranssulfuration
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