Vitamine D en het risico op ASS

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a heterogeneous group of behavioral disorders in which a disturbed immune reactivity can contribute to the etiology. In retrospective research we found an association between the risk to develop ASD and the month of birth with a peak in July pointing at a possible decreased exposure to sunlight during the first two semesters of pregnancy. This could point to an important role of vitamin D which has important anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities and thereby regulates the proper functioning of the immune system in these individuals. Maternal serum levels of vitamin D double during the first trimester of pregnancy and therefore decreased exposure to sunlight resulting in diminished levels of vitamin D production can be an important risk factor for the development of ASD. However, there is a need for more integrated multidisciplinary studies in families where all siblings are also studied to elucidate the contribution of their genetic risk factors.