Private MD News
Home |
News |
Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment
Vitamin D deficiency may be linked to autism
Updated: 2009-05-01 15:00:00 CST Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment
by Laurent Castellucci
Some researchers are beginning to investigate whether a lack of vitamin D may be linked to an increased risk for autism, based on the experience of Somali immigrants who have moved to northern latitudes.
An article in Scientific American discusses two reports, one from Minnesota and the other from Stockholm, noting that the Somali immigrant communities in both locations showed disproportionately high rates of autism.
"It has shocked the community," says Huda Farah, a Somali-born molecular biologist, in the article. "We never saw such a disease in Somalia. We do not even have a word for it."
Both Sweden and the U.S. have been experiencing an overall increase in autism diagnoses, making it difficult to be certain of the vitamin D connection, but supporters point to medical consensus that vitamin D during development and infancy is important for normal brain function and a study that showed higher rates of autism in rainy counties of Oregon, Washington and California than sunny ones.
Researchers in both countries are conducting studies to assess the theory; giving vitamin D tests to parents, children and pregnant mothers
Related Articles from Private MD:
Share on Facebook
Subscribe to Private MD Health News RSS Feed: 
News Categories:
Advanced Lipid Treatment I
Allergy Testing
Anemia and RBC disorders
Autoimmune Diseases
Bariatric Lab Testing
Blood and Blood Diseases
Breast
Cancer Detection and Tumor Markers
Celiac Disease Testing
Chlamydia
Coagulation and blood clotting disorders
Colon
Diabetes
DNA, Paternity and Genetic testing
Drug Screening
Environmental Toxin Testing
Female Specific Tests
Gastrointestinal Diseases
General Health
General Wellness
Heart Health and Cholesterol
Herpes
HIV
HIV monitoring/Treatment/Testing/Post Diagnos
Hormones and Metabolism
Infectious Diseases
Infertility Testing-Male
Infertitlity Hormone Testing
Kidney Diseases
Leukemia and WBC disorders
Liver
Liver Diseases
Lyme Disease
Male Specific Tests
Menopause/Peri-Menopausal Diagnosis
Organ Specific Testing
Ovarian
Prostate
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Thyroid Diseases
Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment
Visit the Health News Archive: Click Here
Questions about online blood testing or how to order a lab test? Click
here to get started or call us toll-free at
1.877.283.7882. Our certified professionals are ready to assist
you.