Evaluation of Serum Vitamin D in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Authors

  • Sharmin Afroz Department of Physiology, Mugda Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Shelina Begum Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Shorifa Shahjadi Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Umme Raihan Siddiqi Department of Physiology, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Nusrat Mahruba Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v47i1.55795

Keywords:

Autism spectrum disorder, Vitamin D deficiency, Vitamin D insufficiency, Neurodevelopment

Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that may cause lifelong disability. The aetiology of ASD involves gene-environmental interaction. Vitamin D plays an important role in brain development and maturation.

Objective: This study was aimed to compare serum vitamin D in children with autism spectrum disorder with that of the healthy control.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka. Blood sample from 50 diagnosed children with ASD and 50 apparently healthy children among 3 to 10 years age group, were tested for serum 25(OH) D. To assess the association independent t test and chi square test were done by using SPSS.

Results: The mean serum vitamin D levels of both the groups were lower than the normal reference value. Again, the mean serum vitamin D was lower in ASD compared to that of control, but the difference was statistically non-significant. Among ASD children, 38.0% had deficient, 42.0% had insufficient and 20.0% had sufficient serum vitamin D. Among healthy children, 36.0% had deficient, 30.0% had insufficient and 34.0% had sufficient serum vitamin D level. However, vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was not associated with ASD.

Conclusion: It may be concluded that, vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in Bangladesh among both ASD children and apparently healthy control and the mean serum vitamin D was lower in ASD children compared to that of healthy control, but the difference was statistically non-significant. Therefore, for proper growth and development more outdoor activity and adequate dietary intake of vitamin D rich food are recommended to overcome the situation.

Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2021; 47(1): 29-33

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Published

2022-05-17

How to Cite

Afroz, S., Begum, S. ., Shahjadi, S. ., Siddiqi, U. R. ., & Mahruba, N. . (2022). Evaluation of Serum Vitamin D in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin, 47(1), 29–33. https://doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v47i1.55795

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 1 (2021)

Section

Research Papers

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Sharmin Afroz, Shelina Begum, Shorifa Shahjadi, Umme Raihan Siddiqi, Nusrat Mahruba

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