Vitamin d in the general population of young adults with autism in the faroe islands.

Eva Kočovská (1, 2) , Guðrið Andorsdóttir (3) , Pál Weihe (4) , Jónrit Halling (4) , Elisabeth Fernell (2) , Tormóður Stóra (4) , Rannvá Biskupstø (3) , I Carina Gillberg (2) , Robyn Shea (5) , Eva Billstedt (2) , Thomas Bourgeron (6, 7) , Helen Minnis (1) , Christopher Gillberg (2)

1 University of Glasgow
2 GU - University of Gothenburg
3 Ministry of Health and The Interior [Faroe Islands]
4 LS - The Faroese Hospital System (Landssjúkrahúsið)
5 Birmingham City Hospital
6 CNRS - UMR3571 - Gènes, Synapses et Cognition
7 GHFC (UMR_3571 / U-Pasteur_1) - Génétique humaine et fonctions cognitives - Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions

Vitamin D deficiency has been proposed as a possible risk factor for developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels were examined in a cross-sectional population-based study in the Faroe Islands. The case group consisting of a total population cohort of 40 individuals with ASD (aged 15-24 years) had significantly lower 25(OH)D3 than their 62 typically-developing siblings and their 77 parents, and also significantly lower than 40 healthy age and gender matched comparisons. There was a trend for males having lower 25(OH)D3 than females. Effects of age, month/season of birth, IQ, various subcategories of ASD and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule score were also investigated, however, no association was found. The very low 25(OH)D3 in the ASD group suggests some underlying pathogenic mechanism.

Keywords: Autism; ASD; Vitamin D; Calcitriol; Total population; Faroe Islands

Domains: Cognitive science; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Human health and pathology; Psychiatrics and mental health

Eva Kočovská, Guðrið Andorsdóttir, Pál Weihe, Jónrit Halling, Elisabeth Fernell, et al.. Vitamin d in the general population of young adults with autism in the faroe islands.. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2014, 44 (12), pp.2996-3005. ⟨10.1007/s10803-014-2155-1⟩. ⟨pasteur-01579765⟩