The association of low Vitamin D levels with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication and interaction impairment and repetitive behaviors and has lifelong impacts (1). ASD is likely to have both genetic and environmental components, and more than 1,000 genes are registered in SFARI (Simon’s Foundation Autism Research Initiative) gene database related to this disorder (1, 2). SFARI uses human genetics to develop studies identifying additional genes involved in ASD (3). Autism is very complex and many environmental and epigenetic factors also involved but the role of all these factors to ASD etiology are incompletely understood (1, 2). Vitamin D as an important factor for brain functions like neuronal differentiation, maturation and growth has been researched as an important factor in the development of autism recently (4,5).