Association of Perinatal Risk Factors with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Am J Perinatol. 2017 Feb;34(3):295-304. doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1597624. Epub 2017 Jan 31.
The PDF is hiding behind a $49 paywall.
- Fact: Low Vitamin D During Pregnancy increases Autism Risk
- Fact: Many pregnancy and labor complications are due to low vitamin D
- Suspect that low vitamin D vitamin D in mother ==> complications ==> Autism
See also VitaminDWiki
Healthy pregnancies need lots of vitamin D has the following summary
Most were taking 2,000 to 7,000 IU daily for >50% of pregnancy
Click on hyperlinks for details
Problem | Vit. D Reduces | Evidence |
| 0. Chance of not conceiving | 3.4 times | Observe |
| 1. Miscarriage | 2.5 times | Observe |
| 2. Pre-eclampsia | 3.6 times | RCT |
| 3. Gestational Diabetes | 3 times | RCT |
| 4. Good 2nd trimester sleep quality | 3.5 times | Observe |
| 5. Premature birth | 2 times | RCT |
| 6. C-section - unplanned | 1.6 times | Observe |
| Stillbirth - OMEGA-3 | 4 times | RCT - Omega-3 |
| 7. Depression AFTER pregnancy | 1.4 times | RCT |
| 8. Small for Gestational Age | 1.6 times | meta-analysis |
| 9. Infant height, weight, head size within normal limits | RCT | |
| 10. Childhood Wheezing | 1.3 times | RCT |
| 11. Additional child is Autistic | 4 times | Intervention |
| 12.Young adult Multiple Sclerosis | 1.9 times | Observe |
| 13. Preeclampsia in young adult | 3.5 times | RCT |
| 14. Good motor skills @ age 3 | 1.4 times | Observe |
| 15. Childhood Mite allergy | 5 times | RCT |
| 16. Childhood Respiratory Tract visits | 2.5 times | RCT |
RCT = Randomized Controlled Trial
Items in both of the categories of Pregnancy and Autism are listed here:
- 24% lower risk of Autism for every 4 ng higher level of vitamin D during pregnancy – Feb 2024
- Autism risk if toxins, heavy metals, microplastics, etc during pregnancy (unless add Vitamin D) – Feb 2024
- Autism reduced 24% for each 4 ng more Vitamin D while pregnant ( ADHD 12%) – Feb 2024
- Low maternal Vitamin D results in larger portion of brain associated with autism – Jan 2020
- Autism risk increased 30 percent by Cesareans (both low vitamin D) – meta-analysis Sept 2019
- Autism risk reduced 2X by prenatal vitamins (Vitamin D or Folic) – Feb 2019
- Conception in winter increases rate of Autism, learning disabilities, dyslexia – Oct 2016
- Autism associated with low Zinc during pregnancy (Zinc is needed by Vitamin D Receptor) – July 2018
- Maternal Diabetes and Risk of Autism in Offspring – JAMA June 2018
- Hypothesis: male autism risk increased if placental virus and low vitamin D – Feb 2018
- Women who had supplemented with any vitamins were 6 X less likely to have autistic offspring – Jan 2018
- A good Vitamin D Receptor (or perhaps more vitamin D) protects against lead during pregnancy
- Autism rate cut in half when multivitamins (including vitamin D) used during pregnancy – Oct 2017
- ADHD 2 X more likely if Tylenol used a lot during pregnancy (Autism increased too) – Dec 2016
- Autistic child 2.4 X more likely if less than 10 ng of vitamin D during 2nd trimester – April 2017
- Autism risk increased by 44% if there were pregnancy and labor complications (probably low vitamin D) – Kaiser Jan 2017
- Herpes virus infection while pregnant increases Autism risk by 2 X (Vitamin D not mentioned) – Feb 2017
- Autism associated with low vitamin D during pregnancy – Nov 2016
- Autism 2.1 times more likely if obese and PCOS (relationships to vitamin D not mentioned) Oct 2016
- Autism 17 times more likely with excessive Folic Acid and B-12 (now added to bread) – May 2016
- Autism with intellectual disability 2.5 times more likely if low vitamin D during pregnancy – April 2016
- Autism risk increased if short time between pregnancies (no surprise) – April 2016
- Autism rate in siblings reduced 4X by vitamin D: 5,000 IU during pregnancy, 1,000 IU to infants – Feb 2016
- All pregnant women (in UK) should have free vitamin D – Gillie Aug 2015
- Autistic measure 5X more likely if low vitamin D in second trimester – Oct 2012
- Low vitamin D in pregnancy and 2X worse language skills later – Feb 2012
- Autism has different causes but same inflammation in brain in half of autistics – May 2011
- Hypothesis being tested: 5000 IU prevent second autistic child - May 2010
- Vitamin D Newsletter May 2010
- Autism and Vitamin D - Newsletter April 2010
Getahun D1, Fassett MJ2, Peltier MR3, Wing DA4, Xiang AH1, Chiu V1, Jacobsen SJ1.
1Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California.
2Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, West Los Angeles, Los Angeles.
3Winthrop University Hospital Research Institute, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, New York.
4Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, University of California, Irvine, California.
Objective To examine the association between exposures to perinatal factors and autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
Study Design A retrospective cohort study of ASD among children born in Kaiser Permanente Southern California hospitals between 1991 and 2009 (n = 594,638). Medical records were used to determine exposure to perinatal (antepartum and intrapartum) complications. ASD was diagnosed using DSM-IV criteria. Multivariable Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (Hrs).
Result Children with ASD were more likely to be exposed to perinatal complications (HR = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.21) than neurotypical children. Children exposed to antepartum (HR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.10-1.36) and intrapartum (HR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04-1.17) complications were at increased risk of ASD. The risk was even greater when both antepartum and intrapartum conditions were present (HR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.26-1.63).
Conclusion Exposure to antepartum or intrapartum complications increases the risk of ASD in the offspring. Therefore, pregnancy complications may help identify children who could benefit from early screening and intervention for this common neurodevelopmental condition.
PMID: 28099978 DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1597624
Press Release from Kaiser for this study does mention Vitamin D
"In August 2016, a Kaiser Permanente study found that the risk of younger siblings developing an autism spectrum disorder is 14 times higher if an older sibling has ASD. And in 2015, a Kaiser Permanente study found that children whose mothers developed gestational diabetes by the 26th week of pregnancy were at increased risk of developing autism later in life."