Low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) in children with autism.
OBJECTIVE
To confirm previous evidence suggesting an association between autism and low vitamin D serum levels.


METHODS
This preliminary exploratory study assessed the circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) in pediatric patients with autism and in typically developing controls from Juiz de Fora, Brazil.


RESULTS
Serum levels of 25-OHD were lower in children with autism (26.48 ± 3.48 ng mL-1) when compared to typically developing subjects (40.52 ± 3.13 ng mL-1) (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings attest to the importance of vitamin supplementation during pregnancy and in the treatment of children with autism, who tend to present low vitamin D consumption rates.
Núcleo de Pesquisa e Inovação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
Márcia Helena Fávero de Souza
MH
Tostes
Núcleo de Pesquisa e Inovação em Ciências da Saúde, UFJF.
Hudson Caetano
HC
Polonini
Laboratório de Neurociências (LIM 27), Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Wagner Farid
WF
Gattaz
Núcleo de Pesquisa e Inovação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
Nádia Rezende Barbosa
NR
Raposo
Núcleo de Pesquisa e Inovação em Ciências da Saúde, UFJF.
Edilene Bolutari
EB
Baptista