The Impact of Serum Vitamin D and B12 Levels on Disorder Severity in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Aim: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined by difficulties in social interaction and communication, along with restricted behavioral patterns. Although studies have noted vitamin deficiencies in children with ASD, there is limited data linking these deficiencies to the severity of the disorder. This study aimed to identify the serum vitamin D and B12 status of children diagnosed with ASD and their impact on disorder severity.Methods: ASD diagnoses were established through psychiatric examinations based on DSM-5 criteria. A child/adolescent psychiatrist assessed each study participant's autism severity by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). A questionnaire was used to document sociodemographic and clinical information. Vitamin D and B12 levels were accessed retrospectively through the hospital system.Results: This study included 57 children aged 24-72 months diagnosed with ASD. Vitamin D levels were below the recommended level in nearly half of the ASD cases, while only two cases had insufficient vitamin B12 levels. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the CARS score and vitamin D levels (r = -0.406, p = 0.002). Further linear regression analysis revealed that lower vitamin D levels were associated with higher CARS scores (p = 0.011).Conclusion: Children diagnosed with ASD are at an elevated risk of nutritional deficiencies, which could potentially contribute to the etiology of the disorder and also influence its severity. Providing vitamin and mineral supplements may be beneficial in avoiding subsequent medical conditions and mitigating disorder symptoms.