John Jacob Cannell MD, of the Vitamin D Council, has written up his theory that Autism is largely a result of Vitamin D deficiency. (Vitamin D Theory of Autism) Here is some of the evidence he cites in arguing for such a connection:
Seizures are common in children with autism, and vitamin D supplementation reduces the rate of seizures in those who have them.
Vitamin D deficiency increases chronic inflammation. Autistic children have high rates of inflammation.
Estrogen has multiple potentiating effects on vitamin D, while testosterone doesn’t. This suggests a protective role for estrogen when suffering from low vitamin D levels. Boys have 4:1 greater odds of being autistic.
Children with Williams Syndrome are highly social, empathic, and friendly; the exact opposite of autistic children. Many of them have very high levels of vitamin D exposure during a certain period during their development.
The epidemic of autism started around 1989, which is at the same time doctors started a widespread campaign advising people to use sunscreen. Before 1985 autism correlated with latitude and sun exposure, but after sunscreen use became widespread it didn’t.
Blacks have higher rates of autism.
Tags: Autoimmune Diseases, Vitamin D
…a crucial aspect of the mechanism presumably being (sun avoidance and) the use of sunscreen by childbearing women, resulting in D-deficiency during pregnancy and, especially, lactation. Sun “protection” of infants being merely a reinforcing follow-on.