Autism and Vitamin D

[justiceD]

The Vitamin D Council has proposed a very plausible new theory as to the cause of autism: that it is caused by a vitamin D/sunlight exposure deficiency.

Those interested can read about it here:

http://www.vitamindcouncil.com/health/autism/ (http://www.vitamindcouncil.com/health/autism/)

[LIZARD]

As far as I'm concerned, there are at least a dozen "autisms," and they each have their own cause(s). :rolleyes:


LIZARD :o

[Ted Hutchinson]

In my view no one should ever have Vitamin d insufficiency or deficiency at any stage of development.

Most people while pregnant take prenatal Vitamin but remain Vitamin D insufficient. See the research listed here (http://www.vitamindcouncil.com/researchPregnancy.shtml) Ensuring adequate exposure to sunshine when you are pregnant and breastfeeding seems the safest way to go. I think there is a lot of misinformation about sunshine exposure and people simply aren't aware of the research Heaney did showing that outdoor workers in Omaha, who being outside most of every day of the year still only achieved an average intake of 2800iu/d and were thus insufficient during the Winter.

For UK readers Omaha is about level with Rome, so if outdoor workers at that latitude don't get sufficient while wearing ordinary work clothes then the idea that at lat 52 exposure of only hands/face being sufficient doesn't ring true. Which is why even people taking multivits in the UK remain Vitamin d insufficient, most throughout the year. (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/3/860)

Cannell's theory rings true as it fits in with the general decline in Mental Health. Over 31 million antidepressant prescriptions were issued in the UK last year, that's one in six of the population mentally ill. A rising number of workers are said to be suffering stress Mental illness is now the second largest reason for UK workers taking time off.

Something is happening that is causing the ever increasing rise in people with brain dysfunctions and an obvious candidate is our decreasing levels of Vitamin D3.

The RDA is currently just one fortieth of the amount the body uses daily. Is it any wonder people taking just the RDA don't improve their status but remain insufficient or deficient?

We have a toxic upper limit of 2000iu/d and everyone whose up to date in Vitamin D research knows 10,000iu daily is absolutely safe and causes no observable adverse events even when taken for a year.

Dr Cannell makes it clear in his paper that although each of the points he discusses are based on good scientific evidence we still need to research the issue to prove the point. In the meantime no one should ever be deficient or insufficient in vit d. It simply isn't worth the risk, you can ignore the autism risk, that is insignificant when compared to the 60% reduction in cancer having a high vit d status achieves. Even, perhaps particularly, Autistic people need the extra protection from colds/flu/upper respiratory tract infections that having a high Vit d status reduces the incidence of by 70%.

We all want optimal feelings of well being (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=15260882)and optimal cognitive and physical performance. It should be obvious everyone, autistic, MS, or with no known chronic conditions, needs to be acquiring, the amount of Vitamin d your body uses daily (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/77/1/204) We mostly are not going to be spending all day every day outdoors therefore we have to work out roughly what our likely outdoor exposure is likely to raise and ensure the balance is made up from an effective strength Vit d3 cholecalciferol supplement.

This is Bruce Hollis speaking (http://www.esi-topics.com/nhp/2006/march-06-BruceWHollis.html)"It is maddening to me to hear physicians say "drink some milk and you will obtain all the vitamin D you need." It is wrong and harmful to the patient. No one should have a circulating 25(OH) D level—this is the metabolite that defines nutritional vitamin D status—less than 80 nmol. I try to keep my own level at 125 nmol minimum and consume between 2,000-8,000 IU/day depending on the season."[/I]

Now take note of the fact he works in Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC, USA If he needs that much Vit d working at that latitude UK readers will need at least that probably more.

Where the risk of not taking action is great (cancer, autism? diabetes, heart disease etc) and the risk of supplementing negligible and cost insignificant, then the wise move, the safest bet, good safe medical practice suggests to err on the side of safety.

[milivica]

Bump......

[roadracer]

As far as I'm concerned, there are at least a dozen "autisms," and they each have their own cause(s). :rolleyes:


LIZARD :o

yep, back then it was only a dozen, now there are over 200 or so :rolleyes:

[LIZARD]

yep, back then it was only a dozen, now there are over 200 or so :rolleyes:

200??!! Do you have a link I can check out? I'd love to see it!


LIZARD :)