The metabolic role of vitamin D in children's neurodevelopment: a network study.

ABSTRACT: Neurodevelopmental disorders are rapidly increasing in prevalence and have been linked to various environmental risk factors. Mounting evidence suggests a potential role of vitamin D in child neurodevelopment, though the causal mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we investigate how vitamin D deficiency affects children's communication development, particularly in relation to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We do so by developing an integrative network approach that combines metabolomic profiles, clinical traits, and neurodevelopmental data from a pediatric cohort. Our results show that low levels of vitamin D are associated with changes in the metabolic networks of tryptophan, linoleic, and fatty acid metabolism. These changes correlate with distinct ASD-related phenotypes, including

SUBMITTER: De Marzio M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11266698 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature