Vitamin D brain development and function

Over the last 15. years there has been growing interest in the impact of vitamin D on the developing brain. There is now evidence linking gestational and/or neonatal vitamin D deficiency with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. Underpinning this research is a large body of developmental studies in animals that demonstrate transient gestational vitamin D deficiency leads to a broad range of alterations in the developing brain. Many of these effects persist into adulthood and alter brain function. In light of how prevalent vitamin D deficiency is in pregnant women, optimizing vitamin D status in this at risk group may reduce the overall incidence of psychiatric outcomes in offspring. Just as prenatal folate supplementation has reduced the incidence of spina bifida, we believe that prenatal vitamin D supplementation may reduce the incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia