Parenting an Autistic Child – Nutritional Treatments and Vitamin D

One of the things that you might want to think about when parenting an autistic child is diet. More specifically, diet and nutritional supplements. Many autistic kids are deficient in different vitamins and nutrients, and adding them to your child's diet can sometimes make a world of difference.

Parenting, Vitamin D and the Autistic Child

Vitamin D is one such vitamin that parents consistently say can help children with autism. When parenting an autistic child we usually don't think about Vitamin D very much. But Vitamin D actually has been shown to be critical to a several different body functions. It is also the most common vitamin deficiency that people in America have. As a parent, you may be asking, "How does this relate to autism?" There are some new theories suggesting that a lack of maternal Vitamin D, as well as the child's levels of vitamin D, could lead to a higher risk of autism.

Vitamin D is really a hormone in the human body, not a vitamin. It is created in response to sunshine, and also can be found in some foods.

What does Vitamin D do?

Vitamin D helps with bone mineralization and formation. A lack of Vitamin D can often cause bone weakness. When parenting an autistic child, you can give your child vitamin D to help control the calcium level in their body, which benefits the immune system by helping with immunosuppression. Without proper Vitamin D, rickets can develop in your autistic child. Finally, Vitamin D can have a role in cancer, depression, and other kinds of diseases and mental illnesses. And as anyone parenting an autistic child knows, depression often strikes children with autism.

What is the connection between Vitamin D and autism?

There are cases from both Minnesota and Sweden that show some alarming trends. In Stockholm, Sweden, the rate of autism spectrum disorders for Somali immigrants is three to four times that of non-Somalis.

In Minnesota, the story is very much the same. In 1993, many Somali refugees immigrated to Minnesota. A few years later, the autism rate sharply increased. By 2007, Somalis far out represented members of other ethnic or racial groups in city autism special education programs. City officials tried to figure out why. Autism was very uncommon for the Somalis. Parenting an autistiic child has become a major concern for the Somali famies.

Did a lack of sun (and lack of Vitamin D) contribute to autism?

What was happening here? One theory has to do with the amount of sun in both climates. The skin creates Vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. In Somalia, there is much more direct sun than in either Minnesota or Sweden, which are located in very northern latitudes. Also, dark skinned people create less Vitamin D than light skinned people do. Another added complication is that many Somalis in foreign countries are likely to wear headscarves and cover their body, therefore negating any chance of being able to get Vitamin D from the sun.

Because of this, Vitamin D deficiency in both mothers who are parenting autistic children and the children themselves was thought to be one possible cause of the increased autism rates.

It's probably a good idea to get yourself and your kids tested for Vitamin D deficiency. When parenting an autistic child you can increase your child's Vitamin D levels with supplements. Vitamin D supplements are relatively inexpensive and worth a try for increasing your autistic child's health. Decisions on supplements are just one of many decisions you will have to make when parenting an autistic child.

But do not feel overwhelmed. And don't feel that it is impossible to keep up with all the information you need to help parent an autistic child. There is help. There is a wealth of valuable information. One great book that has tips and suggestions for helping to raise your autistic child is the The Autism Survival Guide.

2 Responses to “Parenting an Autistic Child – Nutritional Treatments and Vitamin D”

  1. loury Says:
    25. August 2011 at 4:15 pm

    I tried giving vitamin d to my son, Mark Jacob, for a month now. And i could see improvement. He is more responsive now to instruction even though no eye contact. He is turning 18. And he can cook, put his things in order, and take care of hygiene by himself. I suggest giving your children vitamins and minerals in liquid form so that their body could easily absorb it. And since some findings say that autistic children’s blood are acidic, so i made my 2 boys drink a lot of water every day. The hyper activity was minimized. Thank you for the information on vitamin D because Mark can cope up now on his IT class.

    Reply

  2. elisabeth kruger SLT Says:
    25. August 2011 at 3:28 am

    Please keep me updated, thank you for your info. So much to share with our support groups, and parents from all ways of life! Elisabeth SLT Kenya, Nairobi.

    Reply

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