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Background <p>A deficiency in vitamin D has been associated with neurodevelopmental traits related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), potentially influencing brain maturation. This study focuses on children aged 24–72 months, a critical window for early neurodevelopment and ASD diagnosis, aiming to explore the impact of vitamin D on brain structure and developmental outcomes.</p> Methods <p>A total of 234 children diagnosed with ASD were divided into mild-to-moderate and severe ASD groups based on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), and further grouped by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) status as normal, insufficient, or deficient. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to assess gray matter volume (GMV), and associations with symptom severity and developmental quotients were analyzed.</p> Results <p>VBM revealed GMV differences across vitamin D subgroups, particularly in frontal and cerebellar regions. These structural differences were linked to variations in symptom severity and developmental functioning. Mediation analysis further showed that certain frontal regions partially accounted for the relationship between vitamin D levels and both clinical and developmental outcomes.</p> Conclusion <p>These findings highlight the potential role of vitamin D in the neurodevelopment of children with ASD and may inform individualized intervention strategies.</p> Impact <p><UnorderedList Mark="Bullet"> <ItemContent> <p>This study identifies a significant link between vitamin D levels and region-specific gray matter volume in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).</p> </ItemContent> <ItemContent> <p>It demonstrates that these structural differences are associated with both symptom severity and developmental outcomes.</p> </ItemContent> <ItemContent> <p>Mediation analysis reveals that brain volume in specific frontal regions partially explains the relationship between vitamin D and clinical measures.</p> </ItemContent> <ItemContent> <p>These findings contribute to a growing understanding of neurodevelopmental mechanisms in ASD and highlight vitamin D as a potential modifiable factor.</p> </ItemContent> <ItemContent> <p>The results may inform early intervention strategies targeting nutritional status to support brain development in ASD.</p> </ItemContent> </UnorderedList></p>

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Associations between vitamin D and brain volume in children with autism spectrum disorder

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月26日

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  • Pu Tian,
  • Miaoshui Bai,
  • Yaqian Liang,
  • Bingyang Bian,
  • Zhuohang Liu,
  • Xiaona Zhu,
  • Feiyong Jia,
  • Dan Li

摘要

Background

A deficiency in vitamin D has been associated with neurodevelopmental traits related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), potentially influencing brain maturation. This study focuses on children aged 24–72 months, a critical window for early neurodevelopment and ASD diagnosis, aiming to explore the impact of vitamin D on brain structure and developmental outcomes.

Methods

A total of 234 children diagnosed with ASD were divided into mild-to-moderate and severe ASD groups based on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), and further grouped by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) status as normal, insufficient, or deficient. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to assess gray matter volume (GMV), and associations with symptom severity and developmental quotients were analyzed.

Results

VBM revealed GMV differences across vitamin D subgroups, particularly in frontal and cerebellar regions. These structural differences were linked to variations in symptom severity and developmental functioning. Mediation analysis further showed that certain frontal regions partially accounted for the relationship between vitamin D levels and both clinical and developmental outcomes.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the potential role of vitamin D in the neurodevelopment of children with ASD and may inform individualized intervention strategies.

Impact

This study identifies a significant link between vitamin D levels and region-specific gray matter volume in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

It demonstrates that these structural differences are associated with both symptom severity and developmental outcomes.

Mediation analysis reveals that brain volume in specific frontal regions partially explains the relationship between vitamin D and clinical measures.

These findings contribute to a growing understanding of neurodevelopmental mechanisms in ASD and highlight vitamin D as a potential modifiable factor.

The results may inform early intervention strategies targeting nutritional status to support brain development in ASD.