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Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
The vitamin D supplement scientists say could significantly improve core autism symptoms
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORM of vitamin D could significantly improve core autism symptoms, researchers claim. Studies examining whether the common supplement could improve symptoms of autism have had inconsistent results. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A vitamin D3 nanoemulsion was found to improve core autism symptoms Credit: Getty But scientists from the National Research Centre in Cairo, Egypt, say a vitamin D3 nanoemulsion might help ease challenges with social interaction and restrictive or repetitive behaviours in young children. There are at least 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK, according to the National Autistic Society. Autism is not an illness or disease - it influences how people experience and interact with the world. People with the condition may find socialising confusing or tiring, and can become overwhelmed in loud or busy places. They may have intense interests, prefer order and routine, and use repeated movements or actions to calm themselves or express joy. Many mask their discomfort to try and fit in. Previous research into the condition has linked autism to a lack of vitamin D - a vital nutrient the body relies on for various functions, including "brain development", the Egyptian researchers said. Newborn babies with a vitamin D deficiency had a higher chance of developing ADHD, schizophrenia and autism, a University of Queensland study published in May found. Earlier research from the university suggested vitamin deficiencies in mums could also play a part. But studies looking into whether supplements could ease symptoms of autism have had mixed results. World Autism Awareness Day: Everything you need to know One found that giving children vitamin D3 "no influence on irritability or core autism spectrum disorder symptoms, yet it had a beneficial effect on hyperactivity", the Egyptian research team said. "On the other hand, some studies reported improved core symptoms after supplementation with the marketed vitamin D3." Instead of using regular vitamin D3 supplements, the new study used a nanoemulsion of vitamin D3. It involves suspending tiny nano-sized droplets of vitamin D3 in a liquid so it can more easily absorbed used by the body. "This study aims to investigate the influence of vitamin D3-loaded nanoemulsion supplementation on adaptive behaviour and language performance in a group of children with autism compared to the influence of the marketed product of vitamin D3," researchers wrote in LabMed Discovery. The study involved 80 children with confirmed autism diagnoses, aged between three and six, who were randomly split into two groups. One group took a nanoemulsion of vitamine D3 for six months, while the other group was given a commonly available standard supplement. "The vitamin D3-loaded nanoemulsion was prepared in the pharmaceutical technology lab at the authors' institute by the pharmacists in the research team of this study," study authors noted. What is autism? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an incurable, lifelong developmental condition that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. It affects around one in 100 people in the UK and is three to four times more common in boys than in girls. Many people with ASD find it hard to understand other people's feelings and emotions, and they may have difficulty holding conversations. When they are young, their language development may take longer and they can struggle to use facial expressions, using gestures to communicate instead. They may also find it hard to connect with other people and to hold eye contact with unfamiliar individuals. Many children with ASD like to follow a routine, and changes to this can cause distress. High functioning autism is an informal term some people use to describe those on the autism spectrum disorder. Researchers evaluated the children's vitamin D3 levels, as well social and adaptive behaviours and language development, both before and after the kids took supplements. The children had "delays in social IQ and language abilities" when they were assessed at the start of the study. But researchers found that the nanoemulsion raised vitamin D3 levels in the blood and seemed to significantly improve core autism symptoms. 'The supplementation of children with autism using the prepared vitamin D3-loaded nanoemulsion has led to a reduction in the severity of autism and a rise in the social IQ, especially fine motor performance and language abilities of the children with autism spectrum disorder, without adverse effects,' the researchers wrote. The conventional supplement didn't improve autism symptoms, despite raising vitamin D3 levels in the blood. The researchers said vitamin D3 is thought to play a role in memory, mood, behaviour and sleep regulation. Not having enough vitamin D can disrupt the metabolism of fatty acids, which are needed for the quality and function of the membranes of cells such as neurons, they added. "Children with autism have been reported to have gastrointestinal and sensory processing disorders, particularly those involving taste and smell, " study authors suggested. "This makes them very prone to vitamin deficiency. "Therefore, incorporating vitamin D3 in a nanoemulsion formulation can facilitate its absorption, its consumption at the cellular level, and its bioavailability to overcome intestinal and sensory processing disorders limiting the vitamin intake. "This is very essential for enhancing the vitamin impact on the brain and other systems involved in adaptive behaviour." Larger and more long-term studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore the difference in vitamin D response between girls and boys, the authors concluded. Past research on vitamin D3 nanoemulsions has identified some concerns. Manufacturing can be complex and expensive and the solution can become unstable. On top of that, there is a risk of vitamin D toxicity, which can cause nausea, vomiting, weakness and kidney problems. The NHS advises that everyone take a vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter, as our body can't make enough of the nutrient - 10 micrograms is what's recommended. But babies and children aged one to four need to take a daily supplement throughout the year, between 8.5 to 10 micrograms.
New York Post
a day ago
- Health
- New York Post
Children with autism showed significant improvement in symptoms with vitamin D — but it has to be delivered this way
Researchers are over the moon about a special form of vitamin D for autism. Studies indicate that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to have lower levels of vitamin D compared to their peers — the so-called 'sunshine vitamin' is crucial for fetal brain development. Unfortunately, research exploring the effects of traditional vitamin D supplementation on autism symptoms has produced mixed results. 4 An estimated 1 in 31 US children 8 and older has been diagnosed with autism. sergo321 – Now, a new study out of Egypt suggests that a form of vitamin D3 known as nanoemulsion shows promise in improving symptoms. 'The vitamin D3-loaded nanoemulsion provided an effective and true influence on the adaptive behavior and language abilities of children with ASD, not only on the rise of vitamin D3 levels in the blood,' the researchers wrote in the June edition of the LabMed Discovery journal. An estimated 1 in 31 US children 8 and older has been diagnosed with autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects learning, behavior, communication and social interaction. In the new study, 80 children between 3 and 6 years old with autism were divided into two groups. 4 Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects learning, behavior, communication and social interaction. Pictures by Alex – One group received the nanoemulsion of vitamin D3 while the other consumed a traditional vitamin D supplement for six months. There are two main forms of vitamin D — vitamin D2, found in plants and fungi, and vitamin D3, found in milk and egg yolks and synthesized in the skin when it's exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D3 is generally considered more effective at raising vitamin D levels in the blood than vitamin D2. 4 This is a traditional vitamin D supplement sold over the counter in pharmacies. Getty Images/iStockphoto For children up to age 12, the recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 400 international units. A blood test can reveal if someone is getting enough of the micronutrient. The new study found that the nanoemulsion — where tiny droplets of vitamin D3 are suspended in a liquid medium — significantly improved vitamin D3 levels and core autism symptoms. 'The supplementation of children with autism using the prepared vitamin D3-loaded nanoemulsion has led to a reduction in the severity of autism and a rise in the social IQ, especially fine motor performance and language abilities of the children with ASD, without adverse effects,' the researchers wrote. The researchers noted that vitamin D3 is widely believed to play a role in memory, mood, behavior and sleep regulation. Vitamin D3 has also been shown to enhance the activity of glutathione peroxidase 1, a potent antioxidant. 4 In nanoemulsion, tiny droplets of a vitamin are suspended in a liquid medium. FotoHelin – And not having enough vitamin D can disrupt the metabolism of fatty acids, which are needed for the quality and function of the membranes of cells such as neurons. Past research on vitamin D3 nanoemulsions has identified some concerns, including a complex and costly manufacturing process, potential instability of the solution and the possibility of vitamin D toxicity, which can cause nausea, vomiting, weakness and kidney problems. The authors of the new study said more research is needed, especially evaluating the difference in vitamin D response between girls and boys. Researchers have long tried to understand the causes of autism, exploring genetics, environmental factors and brain development to devise potential treatments as diagnosis rates skyrocket.
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Nanoemulsion Form of Vitamin D3 Could Improve Core Manifestations of Autism
A recent clinical study conducted in China suggests promising results for a vitamin D3-loaded nanoemulsion in improving the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. In the study, published on Friday by the LabMed Discovery magazine, researchers from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University explained that while traditional vitamin D3 supplementation has shown mixed results in past studies, a nanoemulsion form-engineered to enhance absorption and bioavailability- might produce better outcomes. ASD is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. It is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, along with restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. ASD symptoms become apparent during early childhood, typically within the first three years of life. Vitamin D3 Benefits Vitamin D3 is a vital form of vitamin D, essential for the typical growth and development of bones and teeth and for improving resistance to certain diseases. Recent studies suggest that Vitamin D3 may play a supporting role in neurodevelopment and behavior, particularly in children with ASD. Vitamin D3 supplements are available as tablets or oil drops, but these forms lack advanced techniques to enhance its absorption. Nanoemulsion Form of Vitamin D3 Therefore, the Chinese study focused on a nanoemulsion form of vitamin D3, which is specifically designed to improve how well the body absorbs and utilizes the nutrient, potentially leading to more effective outcomes. The study involved 80 children with confirmed ASD diagnoses, all between 3 and 6 years old. The children were randomly split into two groups: one group received the nanoemulsion version of vitamin D3, while the other group was given a commonly available standard supplement. Both groups followed their respective treatments for a six-month period. Their vitamin D3 levels, adaptive behaviors, and language abilities were assessed before and after supplementation. Only the nanoemulsion group showed statistically significant improvements in vitamin D3 levels, autism severity, social IQ, and both receptive and expressive language performance. The conventional supplement, despite raising blood vitamin D3 levels, did not lead to meaningful improvements in behavioral outcomes. The study concludes that the nanoemulsion form of vitamin D3 is superior to the conventional oral form in terms of increasing vitamin bioavailability and producing clinically relevant improvements in children with ASD. The authors of the study suggested that nanoemulsion technology could offer a valuable strategy for enhancing the effectiveness of nutritional interventions in neurodevelopmental disorders.
