Vitamin D Theory of Autism

In addition to the current epidemic of vitamin D deficiency, say another epidemic—an epidemic of autism—was upon our children? What if the autism epidemic began at the same time the epidemic of vitamin D deficiency began? What if both epidemics had worsened in unison? What if one theory explained all the unexplained facts about autism? What if both epidemics had the same root cause: sun avoidance? What if both were iatrogenic, that is, medical advice to avoid the sun had caused both epidemics? Be warned, what follows is not light reading—autism is not a light disease.

Does The Vitamin D Theory Best Explain Autism?

The theory that vitamin D deficiency, during pregnancy or childhood, causes autism is just a theory. However, the theory has a plausible mechanism of action, explains all the unexplained facts about autism, subsumes several other theories, implies simple prevention, and is easily disprovable—all components of a useful theory. A genetic lesion (abnormality) in some component of the vitamin D system—a lesion vitamin D's unique pharmacology could overcome—would explain why monozygotic (identical) twins are highly affected while fraternal twins are not. Varying brain levels of activated vitamin D during later life would explain why some identical twins get severe disease while others are barely affected. Falling vitamin D levels over the last 20 years due to sun‑avoidance explain autism's rapid increase in incidence during that same time. The very different effects estrogen and testosterone have on vitamin D metabolism may explain why boys are much more likely to get it than girls are. Lower vitamin D levels in blacks may explain their higher rates of autism. The vitamin D theory has tenable explanations for all the epidemiological features of autism.

What's The Risk of Going In The Sun?

The window of opportunity to affect brain development is limited. Time is of the essence if the vitamin D theory of autism is correct. Ask yourself, what is the risk of taking your autistic child outside to play in the sun? What's the risk of pregnant women sunbathing for a few minutes every day? Children always played in the sun before the epidemic of autism; your pregnant grandmother spent time in the sun as well. Physicians considered that sunshine was healthy before the sun‑scare, that is, before autism became an epidemic.» page: autism index 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Where in my post do you see the words “government plot”? Where is my post do you see the word “plot” at all? Where in my post is the word “government”? What are you talking about? I believe I also wrote, “Everything in moderation.” I would not characterize your husband’s continued and contant exposure as moderate. It sounds horrible. I simply don’t believe a little sun every once and a while is lethal, and the current medical vogue for discouraging all exposure to the sun has resulted in a Vitamin D shortage in many, many people. Sorry my post was so difficult for you to understand.

You didn’t say “government plot” those were my words in my question to you. You said “epidemic of skin cancer” and “campaign to discourage sun exposure” (all exposure?). I don’t see either of those.

The amount of sun we can tolerate has to do with our skin type. The very fairest among us should have very little and wear sunblock. the darker we are the more we can tolerate. That is the message I hear.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.