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# Autism less likely in poor families?
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/autism_less_likely_in_poor_family_1008121282/
- Published: 2012-10-08T13:51:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:15:26.000Z
- Description: A Journal of the American College of Nutrition study reports that states with the highest WIC participation had significantly lower autism rates, a pattern repeated across New Jersey and Oregon counties. The author urges breastfeeding mothers to keep taking prenatal vitamins.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By Jimmy Downs

Monday Oct 8, 2012 ([foodconsumer.org](http://www.foodconsumer.org/)) -- To reduce risk of autism, it may be important for mothers to give their children enough nutrients like vitamin D, thiamine and riboflavin if they excursively breastfeed their children, according to a new study in Journal of American College of Nutrition.

R.J. Shamberger at King James Medical Laboratory Cleveland, Ohio conducted the study and found mothers who participated in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program were less likely to have children with autism.

The percentage of infants who participated in the WIC program for low-income families was estimated for each of 50 states as well as 21 New Jersey adn 30 Oregon counties and compared with their autism incidence rates.

Shamberger found "The states with the highest WIC participation have significantly lower autism rates. A similar pattern was observed in 21 New Jersey counties and 30 Oregon counties."

And the percentage of women exclusively breast-feeding was increasing from 2000-2004\. Infants solely breast-fed would have diets with less thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin D than the minimal daily requirements. And autism may be associated with a deficiency of riboflavin or cognitive vitamins like thiamine or vitamin D, the author said.

On the other hand, MMR vaccination was not associated with the autism rate.

The author suggested that "The mothers who are exclusively breast-feeding should also continue their prenatal vitamins or their equivalent and make better dietary choices."