Associations Between Vitamin D and Core Symptoms in ASD: An Umbrella Review

Yuwei Jiang,1,2,* Wenjun Dang,3,* Lirong Sui,1 Tianci Gao,1 Xiangying Kong,1 Jin Guo,1 Shuang Liu,1 Hong Nie,3 Zhimei Jiang1,2 1College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi City, Hei longJiang Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Pediatric Cerebral Palsy Prevention and Treatment Center of Heilongjiang Province, Jiamusi City, Hei longJiang Province, People’s Republic of China; 3College of Jiamusi, HeiLongJiang University of Chinese Medicine, Jiamusi City, Hei longJiang Province, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhimei Jiang; Shuang Liu, Email 15704601990@163.com; 307692456@qq.comAbstract: We conducted an umbrella evaluation to quantitatively synthesize previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses, thereby collating evidence on the association between vitamin D and core symptoms in people with autism in anticipation of informing clinical vitamin D supplementation. Based on the pre-established protocol, we ended up with 9 studies. Based on rigorous analysis, we found that vitamin D deficiency early in life is a risk factor for the development of ASD and that vitamin D supplementation improves the core symptoms of ASD. Our study concludes that vitamin D supplementation is beneficial for individuals with autism, that vitamin D deficiency early in embryonic life increases the risk of ASD, and that our study supports the idea that prevention begins with vitamin D supplementation early in life. At the same time, we must recognize that our current conclusions support the benefits of vitamin D supplementation for children with ASD, but we are unable to determine the causal relationship, ie, how vitamin D works in ASD, and we need more basic research to explore the mechanisms involved.Keywords: autism spectrum disorders, vitamin D, core symptoms, 25(OH)D, umbrella review