Autism, will vitamin D treat core symptoms?

doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2013.05.004

Medical Hypotheses

Volume 81, Issue 2, August 2013, Pages 195-198

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2013.05.004 Get rights and content

Abstract

No medication exists to treat the core symptoms of autism. However, some children spontaneously improve and have optimal outcomes. Parents of autistic children who have access to swimming pool have reported summertime improvement in symptoms to me. A Japanese case report found the same summer times improvements. If the cause of that summertime improvement could be identified, it may lead to effective treatment. Vitamin D is highly seasonal with a summertime surfeit and a wintertime deficit. The hypotheses that the increased prevalence in the diagnosis of autism is due to better detection imply that parents, teachers and physicians of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s missed this non subtle diagnosis, an unlikely scenario. Recent research indicates that autism often first present itself during the second and third year of life. This is a time when most toddlers have no known sources of vitamin D. Vitamin D has remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-autoimmune properties. In vitro, in vivo, and animal experiments provide compelling data for vitamin D’s role brain proliferation, differentiation, neurotrophism, neuroprotection, neurotransmission, and neuroplasticity. It also upregulates glutathione, upregulates a suit of genes involved in DNA repair and raises the seizure threshold. Adequate, perhaps pharmacological, doses of vitamin D may have a treatment effect in the core symptoms of autism.

Section snippets

Paper

There is no treatment for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, some children spontaneously improve and have optimal outcomes [1]. Thus, it is possible that some unidentified factor in the environment may favorably affect the course of the disease. A Japanese case report showed summertime improvement in the core symptoms of autism [2]. Some parents of autistic children who have access to swimming pools in the summer have reported dramatic seasonal improvements to me,

Conflict of interest

Dr. Cannell is Executive Director of the Vitamin D Council and receives remuneration from Purity Products.

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Cited by (41)

Immune Modulatory Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder
2020, Seminars in Pediatric Neurology
Several lines of evidence from family history studies, immunogenetics, maternal immune activation, neuroinflammation, and systemic inflammation support an immune subtype of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Current Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for ASD do not address the underlying pathophysiology of ASD, have not consistently been shown to address the core symptoms of ASD, and are currently only approved for treating irritability in children and adolescents. In this article, we review the immune modulatory effects of the 2 currently Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for ASD. We then provide an overview of current data on emerging treatments for ASD from multiple fields of medicine with immune modulatory effects. Although further research is needed to more clearly establish the efficacy and safety of immune modulatory treatments, early data on repurposing medications used to treat systemic inflammation for ASD demonstrate potential benefit and further research is warranted.
The effects of different combinations of perceptual-motor exercises, music, and vitamin D supplementation on the nerve growth factor in children with high-functioning autism
2018, Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
Citation Excerpt :
Our findings support the results of some previous studies [38,39,60–62]. Therefore, the diagnosis of Vitamin D deficiency and getting it to the normal level through replacement therapy may benefit children with autism [40]. In this study, after taking Vitamin D for eight weeks, the NGF level in children with autism increased significantly compared to the control group and the group doing only perceptual-motor activities.
The present study investigated the effects of different combinations of perceptual-motor exercises, music, and Vitamin D consumption on the nerve growth factor (NGF) in children with high-functioning autism. 48 children with autism, aged between six and nine years, were divided into four groups: Group A— perceptual-motor activities along with music (n = 12); Group B—Vitamin D supplementation (n = 12); Group C—perceptual-motor activities along with music and Vitamin D (n = 12); and Group D—control (n = 12). Participants' blood NGF level was measured before and after the intervention. The results showed a significant improvement in the NGF levels in Groups B and C due to the interventions. Also, in Group A, the NGF levels increased compared to Group D, although this increase was not significant. In addition, the intake of Vitamin D along with perceptual-motor exercises resulted in a significant increase in the levels of NGF compared to Groups A, B and D. These findings suggest that perceptual-motor exercises along with music as well as taking Vitamin D may provide two appropriate interventions for improving NGF in children with autism.
Association between mental disorders, cognitive disturbances and vitamin D serum level: Current state
2018, Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
Vitamin D deficiency has been identified as a global problem. Approximately 14% of the world population has inadequate vitamin D levels. This vitamin has been usually associated with bone disorders such as rickets, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. However, these disorders present only a small part of all the disturbances which can be induced by its deficiency. Low serum vitamin D is associated with development of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and even cancer. This vitamin may be an important factor in the development of psychiatric illnesses, therefore clinicians should not leave this serious issue unresolved. The aim of this review is to describe the current data concerning the association between vitamin D serum levels, cognition and mental disorders.
We conducted a systematic bibliographical research, of PubMed, MedLine literature and Cochrane database without language restriction to identify all publications concerning this issue from 1995 to the first quarter of 2017.
We found 48,937 articles concerning vitamin D, published during the last 22 years and 3 months (1995–2017). We selected only those publications focused on the association between vitamin D serum deficiency and mental disturbances (depression, schizophrenia, cognitive disturbances, attention deficit disorder, and autism). One hundred and sixty-seven papers were found suitable to our selection criteria. Careful evaluation of the relevant literature demonstrates that addition of vitamin D to conventional antidepressive agents can improve antidepressive effect in contrast to placebo. Regarding other mental conditions there are no clear-cut conclusions.
An association between low vitamin D serum levels and different mental disorders was found. Yet, nonetheless there is no clear consensus that addition of vitamin D improves or is related to a beneficial effect on mental health. More randomized clinical control trials should be performed in order to reach evidence based conclusions.
Vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine and vitamin D levels in children and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder
2017, Psychiatry Research
Citation Excerpt :
Vitamin D plays important roles in development and normal functioning of the brain by regulating proliferation, differentiation, neurotransmission, myelinisation, neuron protection and neuroplasticity. Besides this, it also has functions such as DNA stabilization, suppression of autoimmunity, anti-inflammatory effects, mitochondrial protection and protection against oxidative stress (Cannell and Grant, 2013, Cannell, 2013; Kinney at al., 2010). For this reason it has been argued that vitamin D can play a role in normal functioning of central nervous system and it's diseases (Eyles at al., 2013; Harms at al., 2011).
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex disorder with a poorly understood aetiopathogenesis. One carbon metabolism that includes vitamin B12, folic acid and homocysteine has been investigated in many psychiatric disorders like OCD. In recent years, vitamin D has also been considered to contribute to many of these psychiatric disorders. In this study we investigated whether vitamin B12, homocysteine and vitamin D play a role in the aetiology of paediatric OCD. With this aim we compared 52 children and adolescent OCD patients with 30 healthy controls. The participants were tested for vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine and vitamin D levels and were evaluated with a sociodemographic form, state-trait anxiety inventory 1 and 2, Kovacs Depression Inventory and Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). As a result we found significantly lower levels of vitamin B12 and vitamin D and higher levels of homocysteine in the patient group compared to control group (p values for all three scores were <0.001), whereas there was no significant difference between groups in terms of folate levels (p=0.083). This demonstrates that one carbon metabolism and vitamin D deficiency can play a role in the aetiology of OCD.
Autism: Will vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and early childhood reduce the recurrence rate of autism in newborn siblings?
2016, Medical Hypotheses
Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in the world including the vulnerable group of pregnant women. Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is hypothesized to contribute to the cause of autism. Further, it is hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and early childhood will reduce the recurrence rate of autism in newborn siblings.
To investigate the hypothesis an open label prospective study was performed prescribing vitamin D during pregnancy to mothers of children with autism at a dose of 5000 IU/day. The newborn siblings were at high risk for the recurrence of autism. The newborn infants were also prescribed vitamin D, 1000 IU/day to their third birthday. The newborn siblings were followed for three years and during that time, were assessed for autism on two separate occasions: at 18 months and 36 months of age. The results were compared to the reported recurrence rates in siblings of autistic children in the literature.
The final outcome was 1 out of 19 (5%) developed autism in contrast to the recurrence rate of approximately 20% in the literature. We did not have a control group, nor was there blinding.
The results are promising, however, this is a preliminary study with very small numbers and was uncontrolled. Further study with larger numbers is indicated. The ethics of prescribing a low dosage of vitamin D such as 400 IU D3/day to a control group of mothers in comparison to a large dose such as 5000 IU D3/day are problematic in our opinion.
Nutrition and obsessive-compulsive disorder
2023, Nutrition and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The Interplay

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Autism, will vitamin D treat core symptoms?

Abstract

Section snippets

Paper

Conflict of interest

Med Hypotheses

Res Dev Disabil

Eur J Paediatr Neurol

Optimal outcome in individuals with a history of autism

J Child Psychol Psychiatry

Seasonal changes in sleep and behavioral problems in a pubescent case with autism

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci

Association of childhood autism spectrum disorders and loss of family income

Pediatrics

A national profile of the health care experiences and family impact of autism spectrum disorder among children in the United States, 2005–2006

Pediatrics

Can state early intervention programs meet the increased demand of children suspected of having autism spectrum disorders?

J Dev Behav Pediatr

Parent-reported prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in US-born children: an assessment of changes within birth cohorts from the 2003 to the 2007 national survey of children’s health

Matern Child Health J

Genetic heritability and shared environmental factors among twin pairs with autism

Arch Gen Psychiatry

Social-cognition and the broad autism phenotype: identifying genetically meaningful phenotypes

J Child Psychol Psychiatry

The broad autism phenotype questionnaire: prevalence and diagnostic classification

Autism Res

The role of vitamin D in nervous system health and disease

Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol

The first genome-wide view of vitamin D receptor locations and their mechanistic implications

Anticancer Res

Demographic differences and trends of vitamin D insufficiency in the US population, 1988–2004

Arch Intern Med