Vitamin D and Autism

With the dramatic increase in the incidence of autism over the last twenty or so years, there is always much speculation as to causative factors. While researchers focus on genetics and the biomedical causes, others look to the environment for triggers on a genetically vulnerable child. But so many toxic agents have been added to our world in the last few decades, it would seem amazing to be able to single out any one thing as to account for the rise in autism numbers. Nevertheless, this does not slow down the many theories that float about possible causes.

A more recent theory has been the connection between vitamin D, the recommendation for sun avoidance and autism. In the latest quarterly publication of the Autism Research Institute (ARI), there is an article on rainy weather climates and their connection to the autism increase ("Autism prevalence and precipitation rates in California, Oregon, and Washington Counties," Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.) The researchers postulate several reasons for the autism prevalence, among them the lack of outdoor play due to inclement weather and thus, a lack of exposure to vitamin D. ARI is currently funding research to investigate the link between autism and vitamin D.

In a review article of the Alternative Medicine Review,Volume 13, Number 1, 2008, the authors John J. Cannell, MD and Bruce W. Hollis, PhD discuss the significance of vitamin D deficiency as being implicated in "most diseases of civilization." Drs. Cannell and Hollis speculate that the current childhood epidemics of autism, asthma and type 1 diabetes, all of which have increased after sun avoidance became conventional wisdom, might be the unfortunate consequence of gestational or early childhood vitamin deficiencies. It would stand to reason, then, that an increase in sun exposure and/or the intake of vitamin D in a supplement form could have significant implications in the treatment of autism. But that seems to oversimplify the disorder. And many parents have tried increasing the use of vitamin D with their children without dramatic results. Perhaps there is a 'window of opportunity' that once lost, is lost forever. The jury is still out on this one, but certainly, it is worth exploring.