Is leucovorin an effective treatment for autism? Here's what research shows

The Trump administration is hailing a medication called leucovorin for reducing some autism symptoms, but experts who research or treat autism almost uniformly agree the medication should be studied further before it’s rolled out to children or adults.

The Trump administration is hailing a medication called leucovorin for reducing some autism symptoms, but experts who research or treat autism almost uniformly agree the medication should be studied further before it’s rolled out to children or adults.

Leucovorin, also referred to as folinic acid, is a synthetic form of vitamin B9 that requires a prescription. It’s often administered to cancer patients alongside chemotherapy in the form of an IV.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Monday that it's in the process of approving a tablet version for certain autism patients.

Many researchers questioned whether the approval was premature, given that only a handful of small trials — mostly conducted outside the U.S. — have pointed to leucovorin being effective in children with autism.

Several experts told NBC News that the FDA’s approval could give false hope to families, since not all children with autism may qualify for a prescription and, even if they do, the likelihood of seeing results is uncertain.