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Abstract
Objective: In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the effects of Vitamin D on cognitive development and autism. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between autism, cognitive developmental delay and behavioral problems. We also aimed to examine the possible mechanisms of interaction between nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) levels.
Methods: Sixty-four toddlers with developmental delay participated in the study. In the initial assessment, the cases were subjected to a psychiatric examination and developmental tests. Vitamin D, GDNF, and NGF levels were observed. Patients who had low vitamin D levels received replacement treatment. Six months later, the same measures were repeated.
Results: Significant progress in autistic symptoms and development scores were determined for the group receiving vitamin D replacement. A negative correlation was found between vitamin D levels and NGF levels. Development scores and GDNF levels were found to be positively correlated in patients who were diagnosed with only cognitive development delay.
Conclusions: Measuring vitamin D levels and replacing them if they are low may be beneficial in children with developmental delay, particularly those who also have autistic spectrum disorders. NGF may be more related to autism spectrum disorders, while GDNF seems to be more related with global developmental delay.