2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

333507
Exploring the relationship between maternal and child Vitamin D levels and Autism Spectrum Disorders


Sunday, November 1, 2015

Whitney Rome, Department of Family and Community Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Noe Garza, DDS, MPH, DPH, Research Associate. Department of Family and Community Medicine, South Tx. Env. Education & Research (STEER), UT Health Science Center San Antonio, Harlingen, TX
Lynne Heilbrun, MPH, Department of Family and Community Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Raymond Palmer, Ph.D., Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Beatriz Tapia, MD, MPH, CPH, Department of Family and Community Medicine, South Tx. Env. Education & Research (STEER), University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - Harlingen Regional Academic Health Center, Harlingen, TX
The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) continues to rise with current estimates of 1 in 68. It is understood that ASDs are multifactorial in etiology including environmental and genetic components. Several perinatal exposures have been associated with ASDs including maternal infection, exposure to maternal medication in utero, and maternal gestational diabetes.

Recently, interest has built surrounding the association between Vitamin D and ASDs. Studies have found lower Vitamin D levels among those with ASDs. There are several theories surrounding how Vitamin D may play a role in ASDs including its antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory properties, and promoting of DNA repair. Additionally, inactive Vitamin D crosses the placenta, and maternal and fetal Vitamin D levels are correlated. This suggests that if Vitamin D levels and ASDs are related, maternal Vitamin D levels during pregnancy may play a role in ASD pathogenesis.

The Hispanic Autism Research Center (HARC) maintains a biorepository containing samples from Hispanic children with ASDs, their biological mothers, and appropriate controls. We are currently sending out serum samples to assess Vitamin D levels. We will present preliminary statistical analysis from 15 case-control pairs of children with ASDs and their mothers. If there is a correlation between child or maternal Vitamin D levels and ASDs among our sample, it will be important to pursue this potential relationship among a larger group.

Learning Areas:

Basic medical science applied in public health
Public health biology

Learning Objectives:
Describe the importance of evaluating Vit. D levels among children with ASD’s and their biological mothers. Compare Vit. D levels between 15 case-control pairs of children and their mothers with and without ASDs.

Keyword(s): Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a research fellow with the Hispanic Autism Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center Regional Campus in South Texas. My interests include health disparities in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and the role of nutrition in ASDs.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 2039.0: Infant & Child Health Poster Session