The U.S. government has endorsed an obscure drug as a potential treatment for autism symptoms that medical researchers say isn't backed by solid evidence.

At a White House briefing on Monday, Dr. Marty Makary, the commissioner for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), claimed leucovorin would help "hundreds of thousands" of children with autism.

The FDA said it will list the prescription drug, a form of the vitamin folate, as a treatment for patients with cerebral folate deficiency (CFD), a neurological condition. The listing is an initial step to try to approve leucovorin as a treatment option for some people with autism in the U.S.

What is folate and why is it important?

Folate is a B vitamin found in foods like leafy green vegetables, legumes and citrus fruits.

The synthet

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