Autism: Will vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and early childhood reduce the recurrence rate of autism in newborn siblings?
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BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in the world including the vulnerable group of pregnant women. Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is hypothesized to contribute to the cause of autism. Further, it is hypothesized that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and early childhood will reduce the recurrence rate of autism in newborn siblings. METHODS: To investigate the hypothesis an open label prospective study was performed prescribing vitamin D during pregnancy to mothers of children with autism at a dose of 5000IU/day. The newborn siblings were at high risk for the recurrence of autism. The newborn infants were also prescribed vitamin D, 1000IU/day to their third birthday. The newborn siblings were followed for three years and during that time, were assessed for autism on two separate occasions: at 18months and 36months of age. The results were compared to the reported recurrence rates in siblings of autistic children in the literature. RESULTS: The final outcome was 1 out of 19 (5%) developed autism in contrast to the recurrence rate of approximately 20% in the literature. We did not have a control group, nor was there blinding. CONCLUSIONS: The results are promising, however, this is a preliminary study with very small numbers and was uncontrolled. Further study with larger numbers is indicated. The ethics of prescribing a low dosage of vitamin D such as 400IU D3/day to a control group of mothers in comparison to a large dose such as 5000IU D3/day are problematic in our opinion.
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Stubbs, Henley and Green (2016) found that the recurrence rate of autism was approximately four-fold less than that of other studies (5% vs. 20%).
“The recurrence rate of autism was approximately four-fold less than that of other studies (5% vs. 20%).”
From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [106]
The Stubbs et al. study had a small sample size and lacked a control arm.
“To note, this study had a small sample size and lacked a control arm.”
From Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review (2016) · cites this paper as [106]
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- Authors
- Stubbs, G., Henley, K., & Green, J.
- Affiliations
- Oregon Health & Science University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Stubbs, G.
- Venue
- Medical Hypotheses
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-03
- Volume
- 88
- Pages
- 74-78
- ISSN
- 0306-9877 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2266306935
- Cited by
- 107
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 6
- FWCI
- 10.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Medical Hypotheses (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Autism Research Institute
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Vitamin D Research Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, vitamin D supplementation, vitamin D deficiency, pregnancy, early childhood, siblings of autistic children, prenatal supplementation, vitamin D3
- MeSH terms
- Autistic Disorder, Child, Preschool, Family Health, Female, Humans, Immune System, Infant, Newborn, Male, Mothers, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Research Design, Vitamin D, Vitamin D Deficiency, Autoimmunity, Dietary Supplements, Siblings, Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
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