Vitamin D deficiency is associated with many disease states, from bone health to coronary heart disease, and the deficiency of this vitamin has reached epidemic proportions in the United States
A research group at Utah State University has studied the immune systems of individuals with autism for decades. Many studies from the last 10 years report lower than normal blood levels of vitamin D in individuals with autism.
Dr. Matthew Wappett, Executive Director of the Center for Persons With Disabilities (CPD), said lower than normal levels of vitamin D in those with autism is not to say vitamin D deficiency causes autism.
Related studies indicate mothers who give birth to children with autism are more likely to be deficient in vitamin D.
Also, because a majority of Utahns are not getting enough vitamin D, USU’s CPD has issued a statement urging physicians of pregnant mothers to test for deficiency and correct for low levels.
A position paper from the Center for Persons with Disabilities was authored by Thayne Sweeten, Ph.D., Anthony Torres, M.D., Dennis Odell, M.D. and Matthew Wappett, Ph.D.