title: Vitamin D status in autism spectrum disorders and the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in autistic children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by pervasive deficits in social interaction, impairment in verbal and non-verbal communication, and stereotyped patterns of interests and activities. Vitamin-D deficiency was previously reported in autistic children. However, the data on the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of autism are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a case-controlled cross-sectional analysis conducted on 122 ASD children, to assess their vitamin D status compared to controls and the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of autism. We also conducted an open trial of vitamin D supplementation in ASD children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-seven percent of the patients in the present study had vitamin D deficiency, and 30% had vitamin D insufficiency. The mean 25-OHD levels in patients with severe autism were significantly lower than those in patients with mild/moderate autism. Serum 25-OHD levels had significant negative correlations with Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores. Of the ASD group, 106 patients with low-serum 25-OHD levels (<30 ng/ml) participated in the open label trial. They received vitamin D3 (300 IU/kg/day not to exceed 5000 IU/day) for 3 months. Eighty-three subjects completed 3 months of daily vitamin D treatment. Collectively, 80.72% (67/83) of subjects who received vitamin D3 treatment had significantly improved outcome, which was mainly in the sections of the CARS and aberrant behavior checklist subscales that measure behavior, stereotypy, eye contact, and attention span.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D is inexpensive, readily available and safe. It may have beneficial effects in ASD subjects, especially when the final serum level is more than 40 ng/ml.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  UMIN-CTR Study Design: trial Number: R000016846.
authors: a Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine , Assiut University , Egypt.
authors: Khaled
authors: K
authors: Saad
authors: b Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine , Assiut University , Egypt.
authors: Ahmed A
authors: AA
authors: Abdel-Rahman
authors: b Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine , Assiut University , Egypt.
authors: Yasser M
authors: YM
authors: Elserogy
authors: c Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine , Almajmaah University , KSA.
authors: Abdulrahman A
authors: AA
authors: Al-Atram
authors: d Vitamin D Council , 1411 Marsh Street, Suite 203, San Luis Obispo , CA 93401 , USA.
authors: John J
authors: JJ
authors: Cannell
authors: e Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine , Mo i Rana, Norway.
authors: Geir
authors: G
authors: Bjørklund
authors: f Dorset County Hospital , Dorchester, UK.
authors: Mohamed K
authors: MK
authors: Abdel-Reheim
authors: g Department of Clinical Pathology , Aswan University , Egypt.
authors: Hisham A K
authors: HA
authors: Othman
authors: h Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing , Assiut University , Egypt.
authors: Amira A
authors: AA
authors: El-Houfey
authors: a Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine , Assiut University , Egypt.
authors: Nafisa H R
authors: NH
authors: Abd El-Aziz
authors: i Department of Pediatrics, Qena Faculty of Medicine , South Valley University , Egypt.
authors: Khaled A
authors: KA
authors: Abd El-Baseer
authors: i Department of Pediatrics, Qena Faculty of Medicine , South Valley University , Egypt.
authors: Ahmed E
authors: AE
authors: Ahmed
authors: a Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine , Assiut University , Egypt.
authors: Ahmed M
authors: AM
authors: Ali
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005133:Eye Movements; D006801:Humans; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D019956:Stereotypic Movement Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002762:Cholecalciferol; D002112:Calcifediol
keywords: Autism; Children; Neurodevelopmental; Vitamin D