Replied by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand)

I have also received a feedback from some parents of autism and noted improvements in their learning just taking on alternate weeks of course (one week on/two weeks off) on just taking a 1/4 teaspoon baking soda + 1/4 teaspoon citric acid mixed in 1/2 glass of water in early afternoon or late evening usually on an empty stomach. You can add more citric acid if you wish, if the taste is so-so or that not all baking soda is reacted. The chemical reactions of this solution is a sodium citrate. Sodium citrate is an amazing compound in that it buffers the blood of pH to near optimum, reduces inflammation of internal tissues, and removes dangerous heavy metals which impairs learning behavior. Of course, a more precise regimen should be 4 days on, and 8 days off. But keeping a tight schedule like this are difficult in practice.

The second thing that I have failed to mention in previous postings is the importance of niacinamide, vitamin B3, which have a calming effect and increased concentration in children. In fact scientists have found the effect of niacinamide to work better than nootropics (drugs that enhance your learning and behavioral problems) as the more expensive piracetam. A safe dose without the side effect is between 100 mg - 250 mg for children, but must be taken along with vitamin B complex also. To make this regimen work it is necessary to give the child only just 3-4 days on followed by 6- 8 days off. I could never get a precise fixed on this on/off, but after a lot of struggle, this is my numbers that seems to work best.

Omega 3 and lecithin (granulated kind) are two very important food important supplements. Lecithin is a fat emulsifier, while heavy metals which impairs children learning behavior is hydrophobic. So taking lecithin along with food helps remove heavy metals and toxins more readily.

Because of industrialized farming practices, chickens are now grown much faster, as a result, traditionally raised chickens have a well balanced omega 3 and omega 6. However, today's chicken have an enormous amounts of omega 6 but little of omega 3. I have found that some children with epileptic seizures were reduced to zero, just by taking baking soda+citric acid. And some are reduced by omega 3. Yes, you are right, food is what effects children behavior. Many parents in many forums are now learning the hard way "you are what you eat". Naturopaths can also give you additional information as well to further certain deficiencies in children. However, I can only make broad generalizations of that based on my own experience. The common deficiencies are usually magnesium, vitamin b complex (especially niacinamide), zinc, and selenium. In fact a little known information of vitamin B3 niacinamide is that it is used to treat schizophrenia and hyperactive disorder. It worked quite well. Ted

Footnote information on Nootropics and Niacinamide (excerpts only information related to this discussion): source

"There now appears to be almost an epidemic of Ritalin prescriptions among school children. Unfortunately medicine has not fully considered Ritalin s profound adverse effects on brain chemistry and energy. There is little focus on the role played by amphetamines and other mood-altering prescription or illicit drugs in childhood violence. Xenobiotic (synthetic) drug therapy, combined with biochemical imbalances resulting from situational stress and dietary induced nutritional deficiencies must be considered as a significant contributing factors in childhood violence. Niacinamide is a potentially highly effective treatment for many childhood and adolescent behavioral problems. Niacinamide helps maintain brain ATP/ADP ratios and thereby maintains brain energy and amine levels. Amphetamine-induced depletion of dopamine and energy stores can often be alleviated by niacinamide (Wan, et.al. 1999). Niacinamide, at the very least, would appear to be an inexpensive primary intervention tool due to its benefit of significantly reducing the aggression threshold. Niacinamide has yet another benefit for students. It was shown to have nootropic effects greater than piracetam! Niacinamide also beat piracetam as an antihypoxic, antiamnestic and anxiolytic (Akhundov, et. al., 1990). Perhaps administrators and psychologists should be dispensing niacinamide rather than amphetamines and mood altering xenobiotics in our schools.