Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy has long been associated with neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

More recently, speculation has arisen that tongue tie, lip tie, umbilical hernia and other midline defects may also be linked to a maternal deficiency of folate.

Last month, a report from Oslo showed a 39% reduction in the risk of having a child with autism for mothers who took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy. Leucovorin, the active form of folinic acid, is often used as a supplement for children on the spectrum.

Deplin (L-methylfolate) is being increasingly recommended as an adjunctive treatment in depression.

What's going on here? There are several possibilities. Much of our B vitamin supply comes from the action of friendly bacteria in our GI tract. Insults to these bacteria from processed foods or excessive use of antibiotics may impair this supply.

Another possibility:  folic acid (vitamin B9) is involved in a biochemical process called methylation. This is an important detox pathway. Again, the rising tide of toxins in our modern world may be pushing this pathway to it's limit in some moms - especially those with certain MTHFR mutations.

We'll likely be hearing much more about this subject in the months and years to come.

Bambini was recently recognized by Generation Rescue as a "recommended physician" practice. Generation Rescue is an organization, led by actress Jenny McCarthy, dedicated to the recovery of children and adults with autism spectrum disorders.

It helps provide medical treatment, laboratory tests, and supplements for families that could not otherwise afford this care. It also hosts the largest autism conference in the country and makes mentors available to families with a newly diagnosed child.  The mentors help parents get their child started on a biomedical protocol. 

-- Can my baby have yogurt?

-- What's the best age to introduce peanut butter?

-- What is "baby-led weaning"?

Good questions!  We put together the answers to all the most common ones we receive in a simpe, one-page summary.

By the way, we've recently updated all our advice sheets -- click here for the topics catalog.  Have you found these helpful?  If you haven't done so, please join our Facebook.

Another demoralizing six inches of the white stuff this morning!  Here's a cheerful thought that might take the edge off:

Unlike the unusually warm spring we had last year, this season's temperatures have been pretty good for tree tapping.  But what if you've never tried it, and don't even know how to identify a sugar maple?  Tricky without the leaves...

Well, even in late winter, almost all of us can spot a birch tree -- likely within walking distance of our back door.  Tapping a birch is pretty low-tech (click here for a quick how-to).

Birch sap, which is considered a tonic is Russia and Northern Europe, is a rich source of xylitol, one of eight sugars considered essential for life. Xylitol chewing gum has been shown to reduce the incidence of both dental caries and ear infections in children.  What prescription drug that can do that? Spry, available in our apothecary, is one of our favorite treatment recommendations for kids prone to cavities and / or earaches.