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Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is linked to autism traits in the child

qbi.uq.edu.au

11–20 of 53 posts

Re: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is linked to autism traits in the child

#11

Wouldn't we be seeing "hot spots" in darker northern climates and trouble-free zones in sunnier southern locations? The most compelling linkages I have seen are to certain pesticide / herbicide exposures and pollution exposures.

I live in Washington state and Vitamin D (with Calcium) pills are the norm, routinely prescribed by doctors.

Re: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is linked to autism traits in the child

#12

Wouldn't we be seeing "hot spots" in darker northern climates and trouble-free zones in sunnier southern locations? The most compelling linkages I have seen are to certain pesticide / herbicide exposures and pollution exposures.

>"hot spots" in darker northern climates

like Europe, Russia, etc. ? In this countries people are bigger (thermodynamics) with bones to carry that weight so the issue with vitamin D seems to be solved somehow there - one obvious solution Nature came up with is color of skin, ie. receptivity to Sun.

Now, if you take people from sunnier location and put them into darker northern one you'll get a "hot spot":

https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/new-research-somali-immigran...

https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2008/07/mysterious-...

Btw, notice that in Minnesota they blame it on the bunch of immunizations:

"Harrington suggested that differences in the genetic make-up of Africans put them more at risk for developing autism than other immigrant groups, and noted that refugee women and children must undergo numerous immunizations.

(According to school data, the percentage of Hmong children and Latino children in Minneapolis public schools with autism is not as high as Somali children with autism.)"

while in Sweden :

"A Swedish newspaper published an article last week about that country's Somali population and its high prevalence of autism. The story described a autism study that focused on Somalis. Doctors hypothesized that the high rates of autism in Somali children born in Sweden is due to the lower levels of sunlight and vitamin D immigrants get in Sweden compared with Somalia, a country near the equator. Dark skin that's covered up and a diet that doesn't include fatty fish limits absorption of vitamin D as well, according to the doctors. "

Re: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is linked to autism traits in the child

#13
post #9
post #2

Looks like it's at stage two in the science hype cycle. http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php?n=1174 I'll pay attention when a randomized control study shows that supplementing vitamin D lowers rates of autism.

Be aware that this study is about vitamin D deficiency. It's not start for some crazy health trend. You can go and check you vitamin D levels and if you don't get enough, use supplements to correct the situation.

Can any HNers recommend a cheap and accurate vitamin D test I can do at home? I asked my doctor for a vitamin D test at my last checkup and he warned me that my insurance probably wouldn't pay for it since "many people are asking for one these days without any symptoms of deficiency". Since I had no idea what the lab might end up charging me for it (in the U.S.) I decided against getting the test.

Re: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is linked to autism traits in the child

#14
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Be aware that this study is about vitamin D deficiency. It's not start for some crazy health trend. You can go and check you vitamin D levels and if you don't get enough, use supplements to correct the situation.

Can any HNers recommend a cheap and accurate vitamin D test I can do at home? I asked my doctor for a vitamin D test at my last checkup and he warned me that my insurance probably wouldn't pay for it since "many people are asking for one these days without any symptoms of deficiency". Since I had no idea what the lab might end up charging me for it (in the U.S.) I decided against getting the test.

I asked for a vitamin D test on the NHS in the UK. I was not offered one, but I was offered a blood calcium test. Because I had been supplementing already for several months, when I tested normal blood calcium (with normal diet including dairy), this ruled out vitamin D overdose, and I was recommended to continue supplementing. This might be a cheaper option.

Re: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is linked to autism traits in the child

#15
post #9
post #2

Looks like it's at stage two in the science hype cycle. http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php?n=1174 I'll pay attention when a randomized control study shows that supplementing vitamin D lowers rates of autism.

Be aware that this study is about vitamin D deficiency. It's not start for some crazy health trend. You can go and check you vitamin D levels and if you don't get enough, use supplements to correct the situation.

In certain parts of the world (but I would guess not Australia), huge segments of thr population are Vit D deficient

Re: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is linked to autism traits in the child

#16
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Be aware that this study is about vitamin D deficiency. It's not start for some crazy health trend. You can go and check you vitamin D levels and if you don't get enough, use supplements to correct the situation.

Can any HNers recommend a cheap and accurate vitamin D test I can do at home? I asked my doctor for a vitamin D test at my last checkup and he warned me that my insurance probably wouldn't pay for it since "many people are asking for one these days without any symptoms of deficiency". Since I had no idea what the lab might end up charging me for it (in the U.S.) I decided against getting the test.

If you don't have symptom of illness, it's cheaper to buy a lifetime supply of supplements than worry about getting tested.

Re: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is linked to autism traits in the child

#17
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Be aware that this study is about vitamin D deficiency. It's not start for some crazy health trend. You can go and check you vitamin D levels and if you don't get enough, use supplements to correct the situation.

Can any HNers recommend a cheap and accurate vitamin D test I can do at home? I asked my doctor for a vitamin D test at my last checkup and he warned me that my insurance probably wouldn't pay for it since "many people are asking for one these days without any symptoms of deficiency". Since I had no idea what the lab might end up charging me for it (in the U.S.) I decided against getting the test.

Would they cover it if you did have symptoms? If so, here are some vague symptoms to "have" for your doctor: difficulty thinking clearly, bone pain, unexplained fatigue.

Re: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is linked to autism traits in the child

#18
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Be aware that this study is about vitamin D deficiency. It's not start for some crazy health trend. You can go and check you vitamin D levels and if you don't get enough, use supplements to correct the situation.

Can any HNers recommend a cheap and accurate vitamin D test I can do at home? I asked my doctor for a vitamin D test at my last checkup and he warned me that my insurance probably wouldn't pay for it since "many people are asking for one these days without any symptoms of deficiency". Since I had no idea what the lab might end up charging me for it (in the U.S.) I decided against getting the test.

The test my doctor recommends is the 25-hydroxy Vitamin D test and I think is under $100 the last time I had one done however a blood sample is needed. I think only a physician can order it for you.

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003569.htm (25-hydroxy vitamin D test information) http://www.questdiagnostics.com/home/physicians/testing-serv...

Vitamin D deficiency is no joke and as we spend more time indoors we need to pay attention to this. If you search for "Vitamin D deficiency cancer" you will find many sources linking deficiency to cancer and other diseases.

Re: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is linked to autism traits in the child

#19
What does 'linked' word mean here?

I see that verb in biological/medical articles very often and it always makes me think that researchers are very unsure about the results. It is like 'We believe there is a correlation, but we don't know for sure'.

Am I wrong?

Re: Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is linked to autism traits in the child

#20
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Be aware that this study is about vitamin D deficiency. It's not start for some crazy health trend. You can go and check you vitamin D levels and if you don't get enough, use supplements to correct the situation.

Can any HNers recommend a cheap and accurate vitamin D test I can do at home? I asked my doctor for a vitamin D test at my last checkup and he warned me that my insurance probably wouldn't pay for it since "many people are asking for one these days without any symptoms of deficiency". Since I had no idea what the lab might end up charging me for it (in the U.S.) I decided against getting the test.

Last time I checked my vitamin D levels (or some precursors/metabolites of) the test was pretty expensive and not covered by my insurance. I asked about the price and was told that the test needs to detect those substances in very low concentrations and thus requires more precise and expensive reagents & equipment.
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