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Updated: Oct 16, 2026
Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Brain functional mediation of vitamin D and development in children with autism spectrum disorder
Pu Tian1, Xinnan Yu2, Miaoshui Bai2
1Department of Radiology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
Background:
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often present with developmental delays and brain functional abnormalities. Vitamin D is thought to play an important role in neurodevelopment and brain function, but its association with brain functional metrics in ASD remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, brain function, and developmental outcomes in children with ASD.
Methods:
We included 207 children with ASD and 209 typically developing (TD) children. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured in all participants. Clinical assessments and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) were conducted in the ASD group. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) were used to characterize rs-fMRI metrics, and mediation analyses were performed to assess whether these measures mediated the relationship between 25(OH)D levels and developmental outcomes.
Results:
Children with ASD showed significantly lower serum 25(OH)D levels compared with TD children. Among ASD children, higher 25(OH)D levels were associated with lower Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores and better performance in multiple developmental domains. Mediation analyses revealed that ReHo in the left lingual gyrus and right fusiform gyrus significantly mediated the associations between 25(OH)D levels and specific developmental outcomes.
Conclusions:
Children with ASD exhibited reduced serum 25(OH)D levels, and serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly associated with both clinical measures and specific rs-fMRI metrics within the ASD group. Specific brain functional metrics may play mediating roles in the associations between vitamin D status and developmental outcomes, providing insights into potential neurobiological pathways related to ASD.
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