Serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Vitamin D may play an important role in the etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Vitamin D is regarded as a neuroactive steroid affecting brain development and function. It plays an essential role in myelination, which is important for connectivity in the brain. Studies have shown that decreased vitamin D levels in patients, decreased maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy, and decreased exposure to solar UVB might increase the risk for ASD. In addition, autism symptoms and global functioning may improve after vitamin D supplementation. Here, we sought to aggregate information from previous publications on vitamin D levels and ASD, in order to achieve a higher statistical power and thereby to determine the validity of vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for ASD. For this meta-analysis, 11 studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, accounting for a total of 870 ASD patients and 782 healthy controls. Levels of serum 25(OH) D in participants with ASD were significantly lower than controls, suggesting that lower vitamin D level might be a risk factor for ASD.

Retracted: Randomized controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation in children with autism spectrum disorder

“…Maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and/or early childhood is considered as a possible risk factor in the development of ASD (Grant & Sole, ). In addition, another study has shown that ASD is more common in places with impaired solar UVB penetration (Wang et al., ). Considering the increasing prevalence of ASD and the promising results of our open‐label study about the role of vitamin D in autistic children (Saad, Abdel‐Rahman, et al., ), it is timely to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on ASD.…”

Environmental risk factors for autism: an evidence-based review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

“…Another meta-analysis of 12 studies by Babaknejad et al [41] showed significantly lower zinc levels in children with ASD. Wang et al [42] performed a meta-analysis of 11 studies of the association between vitamin D and ASD. They found significantly lower levels of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D in subjects with ASD than those in controls (Table 2).…”

Autism genes are selectively targeted by environmental pollutants including pesticides, heavy metals, bisphenol A, phthalates and many others in food, cosmetics or household products

“…Meta-analysis studies support the involvement of particulate matter or ambient air pollution in relation to autism in North American [81,309] but not European studies [87] and for the prenatal uses of SSRI's [310] or Vitamin D deficiency in autistic patients [311] but the diverse methodologies used to measure timing and exposure have rendered clear conclusions difficult for these and others such as phthalate esters [312]. These problems are confounded by the gene/environment interactions raised in this study (i.e.…”