Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnancy Linked to Autism

 

Two recent studies have linked the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in boys to a deficiency of vitamin D in the mother during pregnancy. Male children born to women who had low blood levels of vitamin D while pregnant had more than double the risk of autism.

A vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may cause in increase in testosterone in male fetuses as well as in the maternal blood supply and amniotic fluid. Excessive exposure of the developing brain to testosterone is believed to be an underlying cause of autism, which is three times as common in boys as it is in girls. The low vitamin D level may explain the cause of the exposure.

In a laboratory study of mice, giving them vitamin D during pregnancy totally eliminated autism-like traits in their offspring. Further research is needed to determine if such therapy would be effective in humans. In the meantime, it is probably not a bad idea to have your vitamin D blood levels checked if pregnant, and supplement if they are low.