1
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Jaholkowski P, Hindley GFL, Shadrin AA, Tesfaye M, Bahrami S, Nerhus M, Rahman Z, O’Connell KS, Holen B, Parker N, Cheng W, Lin A, Rødevand L, Karadag N, Frei O, Djurovic S, Dale AM, Smeland OB, Andreassen OA. Genome-wide Association Analysis of Schizophrenia and Vitamin D Levels Shows Shared Genetic Architecture and Identifies Novel Risk Loci. Schizophr Bull 2023; 49:1654-1664. [PMID: 37163672 PMCID: PMC10686370 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Low vitamin D (vitD) levels have been consistently reported in schizophrenia (SCZ) suggesting a role in the etiopathology. However, little is known about the role of underlying shared genetic mechanisms. We applied a conditional/conjunctional false discovery rate approach (FDR) on large, nonoverlapping genome-wide association studies for SCZ (N cases = 53 386, N controls = 77 258) and vitD serum concentration (N = 417 580) to evaluate shared common genetic variants. The identified genomic loci were characterized using functional analyses and biological repositories. We observed cross-trait SNP enrichment in SCZ conditioned on vitD and vice versa, demonstrating shared genetic architecture. Applying the conjunctional FDR approach, we identified 72 loci jointly associated with SCZ and vitD at conjunctional FDR < 0.05. Among the 72 shared loci, 40 loci have not previously been reported for vitD, and 9 were novel for SCZ. Further, 64% had discordant effects on SCZ-risk and vitD levels. A mixture of shared variants with concordant and discordant effects with a predominance of discordant effects was in line with weak negative genetic correlation (rg = -0.085). Our results displayed shared genetic architecture between SCZ and vitD with mixed effect directions, suggesting overlapping biological pathways. Shared genetic variants with complex overlapping mechanisms may contribute to the coexistence of SCZ and vitD deficiency and influence the clinical picture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Jaholkowski
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Guy F L Hindley
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College
London, London, UK
| | - Alexey A Shadrin
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo and
Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Markos Tesfaye
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatry, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical
College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Shahram Bahrami
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mari Nerhus
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Special Psychiatry, Akershus University
Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- Division of Health Services Research and Psychiatry,
Institute of Clinical Medicine, Campus Ahus, University of Oslo,
Oslo, Norway
| | - Zillur Rahman
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kevin S O’Connell
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Børge Holen
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nadine Parker
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Weiqiu Cheng
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Aihua Lin
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Linn Rødevand
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Naz Karadag
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Oleksandr Frei
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Center for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of
Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Srdjan Djurovic
- Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital,
Oslo, Norway
- NORMENT Centre, Department of Clinical Science, University of
Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego,
La Jolla, CA
- Multimodal Imaging Laboratory, University of California San
Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San
Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San
Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Olav B Smeland
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT, Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health
and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine,
University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo and
Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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Tamang MK, Ali A, Pertile RN, Cui X, Alexander S, Nitert MD, Palmieri C, Eyles D. Developmental vitamin D-deficiency produces autism-relevant behaviours and gut-health associated alterations in a rat model. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:204. [PMID: 37316481 PMCID: PMC10267107 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02513-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental vitamin D (DVD)-deficiency is an epidemiologically established risk factor for autism. Emerging studies also highlight the involvement of gut microbiome/gut physiology in autism. The current study aims to examine the effect of DVD-deficiency on a broad range of autism-relevant behavioural phenotypes and gut health. Vitamin D deficient rat dams exhibited altered maternal care, DVD-deficient pups showed increased ultrasonic vocalizations and as adolescents, social behaviour impairments and increased repetitive self-grooming behaviour. There were significant impacts of DVD-deficiency on gut health demonstrated by alterations to the microbiome, decreased villi length and increased ileal propionate levels. Overall, our animal model of this epidemiologically validated risk exposure for autism shows an expanded range of autism-related behavioural phenotypes and now alterations in gut microbiome that correlate with social behavioural deficits raising the possibility that DVD-deficiency induced ASD-like behaviours are due to alterations in gut health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Kumar Tamang
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Asad Ali
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Xiaoying Cui
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Australia
| | - Suzy Alexander
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Australia
| | - Marloes Dekker Nitert
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Chiara Palmieri
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
| | - Darryl Eyles
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Australia.
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3
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Amestoy A, Baudrillard C, Briot K, Pizano A, Bouvard M, Lai MC. Steroid hormone pathways, vitamin D and autism: a systematic review. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2023; 130:207-241. [PMID: 36752873 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-022-02582-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The origins of the male preponderance in autism incidence remain unclear. The idea that perinatal factors associated with sex differentiation (e.g., steroid hormone pathways) may increase the possibility of the emergence of autism is complementary to the hypothesis that female individuals are intrinsically less likely to develop autism. Empirical evidence for the mechanistic roles of in utero steroid hormones in autism etiology is accumulating but inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review using rigorous criteria for the measurements of steroids and vitamin D exposure, to summarize the potential contributing roles of prenatal and early postnatal steroids and vitamin D alterations to the emergence of autism. We searched PubMed, PsychInfo, Scopus, and included 22 studies for qualitative synthesis. Among them, six studies examined the association of autism diagnoses in offspring and levels of steroids and precursor steroid hormones in the fetal environment, eight studies examined the associations between autism and maternal and fetal blood vitamin D levels during pregnancy and at birth, and eight studies examined the associations between offspring autism diagnoses and maternal hyperandrogenemia diagnosed before pregnancy. We identified promising and complex results regarding the relations between steroid metabolism and autism. The interpretation of findings was limited by the mostly observational study designs, insufficient investigation of the effects of offspring sex, confounders and their cumulative effects on the development of the child, and unclear impact of the timing of steroids exposure and their effects on fetal neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anouck Amestoy
- Aquitaine Institute for Cognitive and Integrative Neuroscience, UMR 5287, University of Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, Bordeaux, France.
- Centre Hospitalier Charles-Perrens, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de L'enfant Et de L'adolescent, Bordeaux Cedex, France.
| | - Claire Baudrillard
- Centre Hospitalier Charles-Perrens, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de L'enfant Et de L'adolescent, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Kellen Briot
- Centre Hospitalier Charles-Perrens, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de L'enfant Et de L'adolescent, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Adrien Pizano
- Centre Hospitalier Charles-Perrens, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de L'enfant Et de L'adolescent, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Manuel Bouvard
- Aquitaine Institute for Cognitive and Integrative Neuroscience, UMR 5287, University of Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, Bordeaux, France
- Centre Hospitalier Charles-Perrens, Pôle Universitaire de Psychiatrie de L'enfant Et de L'adolescent, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health and Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Autism Research Unit, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
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Cui X, Eyles DW. Vitamin D and the Central Nervous System: Causative and Preventative Mechanisms in Brain Disorders. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14204353. [PMID: 36297037 PMCID: PMC9610817 DOI: 10.3390/nu14204353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty of the last one hundred years of vitamin D research have involved investigations of the brain as a target organ for this hormone. Our group was one of the first to investigate brain outcomes resulting from primarily restricting dietary vitamin D during brain development. With the advent of new molecular and neurochemical techniques in neuroscience, there has been increasing interest in the potential neuroprotective actions of vitamin D in response to a variety of adverse exposures and how this hormone could affect brain development and function. Rather than provide an exhaustive summary of this data and a listing of neurological or psychiatric conditions that vitamin D deficiency has been associated with, here, we provide an update on the actions of this vitamin in the brain and cellular processes vitamin D may be targeting in psychiatry and neurology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Cui
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol Q4076, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia Q4076, Australia
| | - Darryl W. Eyles
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol Q4076, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia Q4076, Australia
- Correspondence:
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Liang Y, Yu H, Ke X, Eyles D, Sun R, Wang Z, Huang S, Lin L, McGrath JJ, Lu J, Guo X, Yao P. Vitamin D deficiency worsens maternal diabetes induced neurodevelopmental disorder by potentiating hyperglycemia-mediated epigenetic changes. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1491:74-88. [PMID: 33305416 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Many studies have shown that vitamin D (VD) deficiency may be a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia, although causative mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the potential role and effect of VD on maternal diabetes induced autism-related phenotypes. The in vitro study found that enhancing genomic VD signaling by overexpressing the VD receptor (VDR) in human neural progenitor cells ACS-5003 protects against hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammation by activating Nrf2 and its target genes, including SOD2 and HMOX1, and accordingly, VDR gene knockdown worsens the problem. In the two in vivo models we explored, maternal diabetes was used to establish an animal model of relevance to ASD, and mice lacking 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1-alpha-hydroxylase (the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D3) were used to develop a model of VD deficiency (VDD). We show that although prenatal VDD itself does not produce ASD-relevant phenotypes, it significantly potentiates maternal diabetes induced epigenetic modifications and autism-related phenotypes. Postnatal manipulation of VD has no effect on maternal diabetes induced autism-related phenotypes. We conclude that VDD potentiates maternal diabetes induced autism-related phenotypes in offspring by epigenetic mechanisms. This study adds to other preclinical studies linking prenatal VDD with a neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Liang
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Hong Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyin Ke
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Darryl Eyles
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, the Park Centre for Mental Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ruoyu Sun
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
| | - Zichen Wang
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Saijun Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
| | - Ling Lin
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - John J McGrath
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, the Park Centre for Mental Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jianping Lu
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoling Guo
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
| | - Paul Yao
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Kangning Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, P.R. China
- Department of Pediatrics, Foshan University, Foshan Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, P.R. China
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Eyles DW. How do established developmental risk-factors for schizophrenia change the way the brain develops? Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:158. [PMID: 33686066 PMCID: PMC7940420 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01273-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The recognition that schizophrenia is a disorder of neurodevelopment is widely accepted. The original hypothesis was coined more than 30 years ago and the wealth of supportive epidemiologically data continues to grow. A number of proposals have been put forward to suggest how adverse early exposures in utero alter the way the adult brain functions, eventually producing the symptoms of schizophrenia. This of course is extremely difficult to study in developing human brains, so the bulk of what we know comes from animal models of such exposures. In this review, I will summarise the more salient features of how the major epidemiologically validated exposures change the way the brain is formed leading to abnormal function in ways that are informative for schizophrenia symptomology. Surprisingly few studies have examined brain ontogeny from embryo to adult in such models. However, where there is longitudinal data, various convergent mechanisms are beginning to emerge involving stress and immune pathways. There is also a surprisingly consistent alteration in how very early dopamine neurons develop in these models. Understanding how disparate epidemiologically-validated exposures may produce similar developmental brain abnormalities may unlock convergent early disease-related pathways/processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darryl W. Eyles
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 QLD Australia ,grid.417162.70000 0004 0606 3563Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, 4076 QLD Australia
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Abstract
Many epidemiological studies have highlighted the link between vitamin D deficiency and schizophrenia. In particular, two prominent studies report an association between neonatal vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of schizophrenia. In parallel, much has been learnt about the role of vitamin D in the developing central nervous system over the last two decades. Studies in rodent models of developmental vitamin D (DVD)-deficiency describe how brain development is altered leading to a range of neurobiological and behavioral phenotypes of interest to schizophrenia. While glutamate and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) systems have been little investigated in these models, alterations in developing dopamine systems are frequently reported. There have been far more studies reporting patients with schizophrenia have an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency compared to well controls. Here we have conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis that basically confirms this association and extends this to first-episode psychosis. However, patients with schizophrenia also have poorer general health, poorer diets, are frequently less active and also have an increased risk of other medical conditions, all factors which reduce circulating vitamin D levels. Therefore, we would urge caution in any causal interpretation of this association. We also summarize the inconsistent results from existing vitamin D supplementation trials in patients with schizophrenia. In respect to animal models of adult vitamin D deficiency, such exposures produce subtle neurochemical alterations and effects on cognition but do not appear to produce behavioral phenotypes of relevance to schizophrenia. We conclude, the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency during early life may increase the risk of schizophrenia remains plausible and warrants ongoing research.
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Lee BK, Eyles DW, Magnusson C, Newschaffer CJ, McGrath JJ, Kvaskoff D, Ko P, Dalman C, Karlsson H, Gardner RM. Developmental vitamin D and autism spectrum disorders: findings from the Stockholm Youth Cohort. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1578-1588. [PMID: 31695167 PMCID: PMC7200274 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0578-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Animal studies indicate that early life vitamin D is crucial for proper neurodevelopment. Few studies have examined whether maternal and neonatal vitamin D concentrations influence risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Participants were sampled from the Stockholm Youth Cohort, a register-based cohort in Sweden. Concentrations of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) were assessed from maternal and neonatal biosamples using a highly sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method. The maternal sample consisted of 449 ASD cases and 574 controls, the neonatal sample: 1399 ASD cases and 1607 controls; and the paired maternal-neonatal sample: 340 ASD cases and 426 controls. Maternal 25OHD was not associated with child ASD in the overall sample. However, in Nordic-born mothers, maternal 25OHD insufficiency (25 - <50 nmol/L) at ~11 weeks gestation was associated with 1.58 times higher odds of ASD (95% CI: 1.00, 2.49) as compared with 25OHD sufficiency (≥50 nmol/L). Neonatal 25OHD < 25 nmol/L was associated with 1.33 times higher odds of ASD (95% CI: 1.02, 1.75) as compared with 25OHD ≥ 50 nmol/L. Sibling-matched control analyses indicated these associations were not likely due to familial confounding. Children with both maternal 25OHD and neonatal 25OHD below the median had 1.75 (95% CI: 1.08, 2.86) times the odds of ASD compared with children with maternal and neonatal 25OHD both below the median. Our results are consistent with an increasing body of evidence suggesting that vitamin D concentrations in early life may be associated with increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders including ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian K. Lee
- grid.166341.70000 0001 2181 3113Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA USA ,A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Philadelphia, PA USA ,grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Darryl W. Eyles
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD Australia ,grid.417162.70000 0004 0606 3563Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD Australia
| | - Cecilia Magnusson
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Craig J. Newschaffer
- grid.166341.70000 0001 2181 3113Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA USA ,A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - John J. McGrath
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD Australia ,grid.417162.70000 0004 0606 3563Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD Australia ,grid.7048.b0000 0001 1956 2722National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - David Kvaskoff
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD Australia
| | - Pauline Ko
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD Australia ,grid.417162.70000 0004 0606 3563Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD Australia
| | - Christina Dalman
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Håkan Karlsson
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Renee M. Gardner
- grid.4714.60000 0004 1937 0626Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Ali AA, Cui X, Pertile RAN, Li X, Medley G, Alexander SA, Whitehouse AJO, McGrath JJ, Eyles DW. Developmental vitamin D deficiency increases foetal exposure to testosterone. Mol Autism 2020; 11:96. [PMID: 33298169 PMCID: PMC7727109 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00399-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders which are more common in males. The ‘prenatal sex steroid’ hypothesis links excessive sex-steroid exposure during foetal life with the behavioural differences observed in ASD. However, the reason why sex steroid exposure may be excessive remains unclear. Epidemiological studies have identified several environmental risk factors associated with ASD, including developmental vitamin D (DVD) deficiency. We have demonstrated in an animal model that DVD-deficiency is associated with a hyper-inflammatory response in placentas from male but not female foetuses. Vitamin D also regulates the expression of several steroidogenic enzymes in vitro. Therefore using this animal model, we have examined whether DVD-deficiency leads to increased sex-steroid levels in both the maternal and foetal compartments. Methods Female rats are fed a vitamin D deficient diet from 6 weeks before mating until tissue collection at embryonic day 18. We examined the levels of testosterone, androstenedione and corticosterone in maternal plasma, foetal brains and amniotic fluid. We further examined gene expressions of steroidogenic enzymes and DNA methylation of aromatase promoters in foetal brains as a potential molecular mechanism regulating testosterone expression. Results We show that DVD-deficiency increases testosterone levels in maternal blood. We also show elevated levels of testosterone and androstenedione in the amniotic fluid of female but not male DVD-deficient foetuses. Testosterone levels were also elevated in DVD-deficient male brains. Vitamin D, like other steroid-related hormones, regulates gene expression via methylation. Therefore we examined whether the significant elevation in testosterone in male brains was due to such a potential gene-silencing mechanism. We show that the promoter of aromatase was hyper-methylated compared to male controls. Limitations A reduction in aromatase, in addition to causing excessive testosterone, could also lead to a reduction in estradiol which was not examined here. Conclusions This study is the first to show how an epidemiologically established environmental risk factor for ASD may selectively elevate testosterone in male embryonic brains. These findings provide further mechanistic support for the prenatal sex steroid theory of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asad Amanat Ali
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Xiaoying Cui
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Xiang Li
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Gregory Medley
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Suzanne Adele Alexander
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew J O Whitehouse
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - John Joseph McGrath
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.,Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD, Australia.,NCRR-National Centre for Register-Based Research, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Darryl Walter Eyles
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia. .,Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, The Park Centre for Mental Health, Wacol, QLD, Australia.
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Windham GC, Pearl M, Poon V, Berger K, Soriano JW, Eyles D, Lyall K, Kharrazi M, Croen LA. Maternal Vitamin D Levels During Pregnancy in Association With Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) or Intellectual Disability (ID) in Offspring; Exploring Non-linear Patterns and Demographic Sub-groups. Autism Res 2020; 13:2216-2229. [PMID: 33135392 PMCID: PMC11068065 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Increasing vitamin D deficiency and evidence for vitamin D's role in brain and immune function have recently led to studies of neurodevelopment; however, few are specific to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and vitamin D in pregnancy, a likely susceptibility period. We examined this in a case-control study of 2000-2003 Southern Californian births; ASD and intellectual disability (ID) were identified through the Department of Developmental Services and controls from birth certificates (N = 534, 181, and 421, respectively, in this analysis). Total 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured in mid-pregnancy serum, categorized as deficient (<50 nmol/L), insufficient (50-74 nmol/L), or sufficient (≥75 nmol/L, referent category), and examined continuously (per 25 nmol/L). Crude and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Non-linearity was examined with cubic splines. AORs (95% CI) for ASD were 0.79 (0.49-1.3) for maternal deficiency (9.5%), 0.93 (0.68-1.3) for insufficiency (25.6%), and 0.95 (0.86, 1.05) for linear continuous 25(OH)D. Results were similarly null for ASD with or without ID, and ID only. Interactions were observed; non-Hispanic whites (NHW) (AOR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.69-0.98) and males (AOR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.80-0.99) had protective associations for ASD with continuous 25(OH)D. A positive association with ASD was observed in females (AOR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.06-1.85). With splines, a non-linear inverted j-shaped pattern was seen overall (P = 0.009 for non-linearity), with the peak around 100 nmol/L; a non-linear pattern was not observed among NHW, females, nor for ID. Our findings from a large study of ASD and prenatal vitamin D levels indicate that further research is needed to investigate non-linear patterns and potentially vulnerable sub-groups. LAY SUMMARY: We studied whether mothers' vitamin D levels during pregnancy were related to their children having autism (or low IQ) later. Low vitamin D levels were not related to greater risk of autism or low IQ in children overall. With higher levels of mothers' vitamin D, risk of autism went down in boys, but went up in girls. Risk of autism also went down in children of non-Hispanic white mothers with higher vitamin D levels, but we did not find a relation in other race/ethnic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayle C Windham
- Environmental Health Investigations Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA
| | - Michelle Pearl
- Environmental Health Investigations Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA
| | - Victor Poon
- Sequoia Foundation, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | | | - Darryl Eyles
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kristen Lyall
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Martin Kharrazi
- Environmental Health Investigations Branch, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, California, USA
| | - Lisa A Croen
- Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, California, USA
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11
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Ritz B, Yan Q, Uppal K, Liew Z, Cui X, Ling C, Inoue K, von Ehrenstein O, Walker DI, Jones DP. Untargeted Metabolomics Screen of Mid-pregnancy Maternal Serum and Autism in Offspring. Autism Res 2020; 13:1258-1269. [PMID: 32496662 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Discovering pathophysiologic networks in a blood-based approach may help to generate valuable tools for early treatment or preventive measures in autism. To date targeted or untargeted metabolomics approaches to identify metabolic features and pathways affecting fetal neurodevelopment have rarely been applied to pregnancy samples, that is, an early period potentially relevant for the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We conducted a population-based study relying on autism diagnoses retrieved from California Department of Developmental Services record. After linking cases to and sampling controls from birth certificates, we retrieved stored maternal mid-pregnancy serum samples collected as part of the California Prenatal Screening Program from the California Biobank for children born 2004 to 2010 in the central valley of California. We retrieved serum for 52 mothers whose children developed autism and 62 population controls originally selected from all eligible children matched by birth year and child's sex. Also, we required that these mothers were relatively low or unexposed to air pollution and select pesticides during early pregnancy. We identified differences in metabolite levels in several metabolic pathways, including glycosphingolipid biosynthesis and metabolism, N-glycan and pyrimidine metabolism, bile acid pathways and, importantly, C21-steroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolism. Disturbances in these pathways have been shown to be relevant for neurodevelopment in rare genetic syndromes or implicated in previous studies of autism. This study provides new insight into maternal mid-pregnancy metabolic features possibly related to the development of autism and an incentive to explore whether these pathways and metabolites are useful for early diagnosis, treatment, or prevention. LAY SUMMARY: This study found that in mid-pregnancy the blood of mothers who give birth to a child that develops autism has some characteristic features that are different from those of blood samples taken from control mothers. These features are related to biologic mechanisms that can affect fetal brain development. In the future, these insights may help identify biomarkers for early autism diagnosis and treatment or preventive measures. Autism Res 2020, 13: 1258-1269. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Ritz
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Neurology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Qi Yan
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Karan Uppal
- Clinical Biomarkers Laboratory, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Xin Cui
- Perinatal Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Research Unit, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, California, USA.,California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Chenxiao Ling
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kosuke Inoue
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ondine von Ehrenstein
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Douglas I Walker
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dean P Jones
- Clinical Biomarkers Laboratory, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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12
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Ribeiro R, Nicoli JR, Santos G, Lima-Santos J. Impact of vitamin deficiency on microbiota composition and immunomodulation: relevance to autistic spectrum disorders. Nutr Neurosci 2019; 24:601-613. [PMID: 31506005 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2019.1660485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Inappropriate vitamin supply is a public health problem and is related to abnormalities in brain development, immune response and, more recently, in changes of gut microbial composition. It is known that low levels of vitamin in early life are linked to increased susceptibility to neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Unfortunately, the possible peripheral influences of vitamin deficiency that leads to alterations in the gut microbiota-immune-brain axis, one important modulator of the ASD pathology, remain unclear. This narrative review discusses how the impact of vitamin deficiency results in changes in the immune regulation and in the gut microbiota composition, trying to understand how these changes may contribute for the development and severity of ASD. METHODS The papers were selected using Pubmed and other databases. This review discusses the following topics: (1) vitamin deficiency in alterations of central nervous system in autism, (2) the impact of low levels of vitamins in immunomodulation and how it can favor imbalance in gut microbiota composition and gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances, (3) gut microbiota imbalance/inflammation associated with the ASD pathophysiology, and (4) possible evidences of the role of vitamin deficiency in dysfunctional gut microbiota-immune-brain axis in ASD. RESULTS Studies indicate that hypovitaminosis A, B12, D, and K have been co-related with the ASD neuropathology. Furthermore, it was shown that low levels of these vitamins favor the Th1/Th17 environment in the gut, as well as the growth of enteropathogens linked to GI disorders. DISCUSSION GI disorders and alterations in the gut microbiota-immune-brain axis seems to be linked with ASD severity. Although unclear, hypovitaminosis appears to regulate peripherally the ASD pathophysiology by modulating the gut microbiota-immune-brain axis, however, more research is still necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Ribeiro
- Departament of Biologic Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilheus, Brazil
| | - Jacques Robert Nicoli
- Departament of Microbiology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Gesivaldo Santos
- Departament of Biologic Sciences, State University of the Southwest of Bahia, Jequie, Brazil
| | - Jane Lima-Santos
- Departament of Biologic Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilheus, Brazil
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13
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Placental programming of neuropsychiatric disease. Pediatr Res 2019; 86:157-164. [PMID: 31003234 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-019-0405-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The placenta is vital for fetal growth, and compromised function is associated with abnormal development, especially of the brain. Linking placental function to brain development is a new field we have dubbed neuroplacentology. Approximately 380,000 infants in the United States each year abruptly lose placental support upon premature birth, and more than 10% of pregnancies are affected by more insidious placental dysfunction such as preeclampsia or infection. Abnormal fetal brain development or injury can lead to life-long neurological impairments, including psychiatric disorders. The majority of research connecting placental compromise to fetal brain injury has focused on gas exchange or nutritional programming, neglecting the placenta's essential neuroendocrine role. We will review the current evidence that placental dysfunction, particularly endocrine dysfunction, secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, or barrier breakdown may place many thousands of fetuses at risk for life-long neurodevelopmental impairments each year. Understanding how specific placental factors shape brain development and increase the risk for later psychiatric disorders, including autism, attention deficit disorder, and schizophrenia, paves the way for novel treatment strategies to maintain the normal developmental milieu and protect from further injury.
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Schmidt RJ, Niu Q, Eyles DW, Hansen RL, Iosif AM. Neonatal vitamin D status in relation to autism spectrum disorder and developmental delay in the CHARGE case-control study. Autism Res 2019; 12:976-988. [PMID: 31094097 PMCID: PMC6546420 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Vitamin D appears essential for normal neurodevelopment and cognitive and behavioral function. We examined neonatal vitamin D in relation to the child's later diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or developmental delay (DD). Children aged 24-60 months enrolled in the population-based CHARGE case-control study were evaluated clinically for ASD (n = 357), DD (n = 134), or typical development (TD, n = 234) at the MIND Institute (Sacramento, CA) using standardized assessments. Total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) was measured using sensitive isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in archived dried blood spots collected for the California Department of Public Health's Newborn Screening Program. Multinomial logistic regression was used to calculate ORs as measures of the associations between 25 nmol/L change in 25(OH)D and ASD and DD. Associations between 25(OH)D and scores on Mullen Scales of Early Learning and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales were assessed using robust linear regression. Effect modification was examined using stratified models and interaction product terms. Unadjusted mean (SD) 25(OH)D was lower for DD (73.2 [37.6]) than for TD (82.7 [39.3]) and ASD (80.1 [37.4]). After adjustment for maternal prepregnancy body mass index and education, a 25 nmol/L increase in total 25(OH)D was not associated with ASD (OR = 0.97; CI: 0.87-1.08) or DD (OR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.78-1.06). Neonatal 25(OH)D was associated with significantly reduced ASD only in females (adjusted OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.55-0.99, Pinteraction = 0.03), and significantly reduced DD only in non-Hispanic white children (adjusted OR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.63-0.98, Pinteraction = 0.11 for Hispanic, Pinteraction = 0.31 for other), driven by DD children with trisomy 21. This study provides evidence that neonatal vitamin D could be associated with ASD in females and with DD in non-Hispanic white children. Autism Res 2019, 12: 976-988. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Vitamin D appears essential for brain development and function. We examined neonatal total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) measured in dried blood spots in relation to later diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or developmental delay (DD) and related assessment scores. Higher neonatal 25(OH)D was associated with a 26% reduction in the odds for ASD only in females. After taking into account factors that could contribute to vitamin D status, a significant association with 21% reduced odds for DD was found only in non-Hispanic white children. Though results were nonsignificant overall, certain subgroups might benefit from higher neonatal vitamin D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Qiaojuan Niu
- Graduate Group in Biostatistics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Darryl W Eyles
- Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, and Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Robin L Hansen
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
| | - Ana-Maria Iosif
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
- The MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California
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15
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Windham GC, Pearl M, Anderson MC, Poon V, Eyles D, Jones KL, Lyall K, Kharrazi M, Croen LA. Newborn vitamin D levels in relation to autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability: A case-control study in california. Autism Res 2019; 12:989-998. [PMID: 30883046 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency has been increasing concurrently with prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and emerging evidence suggests vitamin D is involved in brain development. Most prior studies of ASD examined vitamin D levels in children already diagnosed, but a few examined levels during perinatal development, the more likely susceptibility period. Therefore, we examined newborn vitamin D levels in a case-control study conducted among births in 2000-2003 in southern California. Children with ASD (N = 563) or intellectual disability (ID) (N = 190) were identified from the Department of Developmental Services and compared to population controls (N = 436) identified from birth certificates. 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured in archived newborn dried blood spots by a sensitive assay and corrected to sera equivalents. We categorized 25(OH) D levels as deficient (<50 nmol/L), insufficient (50-74 nmol/L), and sufficient (≥75 nmol/L), and also examined continuous levels, using logistic regression. The adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals for ASD were 0.96 (0.64-1.4) for 25(OH)D deficiency (14% of newborns) and 1.2 (0.86-1.6) for insufficiency (26% of newborns). The AORs for continuous 25(OH)D (per 25 nmol/L) were 1.0 (0.91-1.09) for ASD and 1.14 (1.0-1.30) for ID. Thus, in this relatively large study of measured newborn vitamin D levels, our results do not support the hypothesis of lower 25(OH)D being associated with higher risk of ASD (or ID), although we observed suggestion of interactions with sex and race/ethnicity. 25(OH)D levels were relatively high (median 84 nmol/L in controls), so results may differ in populations with higher prevalence of low vitamin D levels. Autism Res 2019, 12: 989-998. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: We studied whether vitamin D levels measured at birth were related to whether a child later developed autism (or low IQ). Our results did not show that children with autism, or low IQ, overall had lower vitamin D levels at birth than children without autism. Vitamin D levels were fairly high, on average, in these children born in Southern California.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gayle C Windham
- California Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, Richmond, California
| | - Michelle Pearl
- California Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, Richmond, California
| | | | | | - Darryl Eyles
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Karen L Jones
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Kristen Lyall
- AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Martin Kharrazi
- California Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, Richmond, California
| | - Lisa A Croen
- Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, California
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17
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Haq A, Wimalawansa SJ, Carlberg C. Highlights from the 6 th International Conference on Vitamin D Deficiency, "Nutrition and Human Health", Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 9-10, 2017. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2018; 180:1-3. [PMID: 29803356 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2018.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Afrozul Haq
- Department of Food Technology, School of Interdisciplinary Sciences, Jamia Hamdard (Deemed to be University), New Delhi, India.
| | - Sunil J Wimalawansa
- Endocrinology, Metabolism & Nutrition, Cardio Metabolic Institute, Somerset, New Jersey, USA.
| | - Carsten Carlberg
- School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
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