Bone density in peripubertal boys with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Open accessAbstract
We determined whether bone mineral density (BMD) is lower in boys with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) than controls, and also assessed variables that may affect BMD in ASD. BMD was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 18 boys with ASD and 19 controls 8-14 years old. Boys with ASD had lower BMD Z-scores at the spine, hip and femoral neck, and differences at the hip and femoral neck persisted after controlling for maturity and BMI. Vitamin D intake from food and in serum were lower in ASD subjects, as was exercise activity. We conclude that BMD is lower in peripubertal boys with ASD and may be associated with impaired vitamin D status and lower exercise activity.
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Of 14 studies, nine reported significant differences in 25(OH)D concentrations between cases and controls, one borderline difference, and four found no significant differences among study groups.
“Of 14 studies, nine reported significant differences in 25(OH)D concentrations between cases and controls [78,81,108,109,110,111,112,117,118], one borderline difference [114], and four found no significant differences among study groups [79,113,115,116].”
From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [114]
Neumeyer et al. had a small sample size (n = 18) with the sample size calculated based on differences in bone mineral density rather than 25(OH)D concentrations.
“Small sample size was a limitation of this study (n = 18) with the sample size calculated based on differences in bone mineral density rather than 25(OH)D concentrations.”
From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [114]
Approximately 11% and 73% of ASD children and typically developing children had high physical activity levels, respectively, and fewer ASD children were exposed to sun than healthy controls (p = 0.002).
“Approximately 11% and 73% of ASD children and typically developing children had high physical activity levels, respectively [114], and fewer ASD children were exposed to sun than healthy controls (p = 0.002) [118].”
From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [114]
Neumeyer et al. found that despite comparable total energy intake and caloric intake from specific macronutrients, calcium and vitamin D intake was lower in cases than controls.
“Despite comparable total energy intake and caloric intake from specific macronutrients among study groups, calcium and vitamin D intake was lower in cases than controls.”
From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [114]
Neumeyer et al. found that cases had marginally lower serum 25(OH)D concentration than controls (67 ± 5 vs. 79 ± 4 nmol/L, p = 0.05).
“Furthermore, cases had marginally lower serum 25(OH)D concentration than controls (67 ± 5 vs. 79 ± 4 nmol/L, p = 0.05).”
From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [114]
Children with ASD may receive less sunlight due to lower outdoor activity and have inadequate intake of vitamin D, i.e., reverse causality.
“Furthermore, children with ASD may receive less sunlight due to lower outdoor activity and have inadequate intake of vitamin D [114,118,126,127,128,129,130,131,132,133,134,135,136], i.e., reverse causality.”
From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [114]
Neumeyer et al. (2013) reported a higher proportion of boys with ASD having 25(OH)D concentrations <80 nmol/L than healthy boys (77% vs. 37%, p = 0.02).
“Neumeyer et al. (2013) [114] reported higher proportion of boys with ASD having 25(OH)D concentrations <80 nmol/L than healthy boys (77% vs. 37%, p = 0.02).”
From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [114]
Several case-control studies have shown that children with ASD have lower vitamin D intakes than typically developing controls.
“However, several case-control studies have shown that children with ASD have lower vitamin D intakes than typically developing controls [114,128,129,130].”
From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [114]
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- Authors
- Neumeyer, A. M., Gates, A., Ferrone, C., Lee, H., & Misra, M.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
- Corresponding author
- Neumeyer, Ann M.
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2012-11-04
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1623-1629
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- PMC
- PMC4371783
- OpenAlex
- W2090554224
- Cited by
- 91
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 2.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Public Health Service (UA3 MC11054)
- National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR025758)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (K24HD071843)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Vitamin D Research Studies
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, bone mineral density, vitamin D status, physical activity, bone health, osteoporosis risk, body mass index, skeletal maturation
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Age Determination by Skeleton, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Humans, Male, Puberty, Reference Values, Risk Factors, Vitamin D, Exercise, Absorptiometry, Photon, Bone Density, Body Mass Index
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