Plasma 25(OH)D concentration in children with autism spectrum disorder

Dev Med Child Neurol. 2010 Oct;52(10):969-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2010.03704.x. Epub 2010 May 24.

Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are reported to have decreased bone cortical thickness (BCT). Vitamin D plays an important physiological role in bone growth and development, so deficiency of vitamin D could contribute to decreased BCT. The goal of this study was to compare plasma 25(OH)D concentration in three groups of Caucasian males age 4 to 8 years old: (1) ASD and an unrestricted diet (n=40), (2) ASD and a casein-free diet (n=9), and (3) unaffected controls (n=40). No significant group differences were observed (p=0.4). However, a total of 54 (61%) of the children in the entire cohort had a plasma 25(OH)D concentration of less than 20ng/mL, similar to findings of low 25(OH)D concentrations in population-based studies. Children with ASD should be monitored for vitamin D deficiency.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / blood*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • White People

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D