Autism Treatments - New Autism Treatments Using Vitamin D?

[Lawrence Sheen]

A hypothesis formed last year by J.J. Cannell at Atascadero State
Hospital in California states that Vitamin D deficiency may be one of
the causes for the increase in Autism cases in the last two decades.
Of course Autism has a strong genetic basis however this theory also
helps to bring in environmental factors that may enhance the effect of
Autism.
Until about 20 years Autism was largely uncommon. Around the same
time, the study says, medical advice started being given to avoid
sunlight for fear of skin cancer. This was mostly hype by
dermatologists, but it remains to be seen if sunlight itself can cure
the problem. Though it would be relatively easy to conduct a study to
prove or disprove J.J. Cannell's Vitamin D theory, no one has
conducted one yet. But there are other proven options available to
people which rely on diet and innovative learning methods.
A more practical and proven option can be taking certain foods of your
child's diet and working with the unique facets of Autism to get
through to the child. According to the GFCF diet theory, some children
are unable to digest gluten and casein proteins. Many parents who put
their children on this diet report that this helps their children with
mood problems, allows increases their attention span and the time that
they make eye contact.
The much larger question that is brought into the picture is how our
diets can effect and change our genetic predispositions. Until genetic
engineering technology can alter human DNA safely we are left finding
ways to alter the environment and diet of Autistic children in order
to better help them cope with the world.
There are many theories coming out about what causes Autism and
because of this new Autism treatments are being created every year or
so based off of new studies. Some of these treatments have yielded
noticeable progress, while the usefulness of others are still being
hotly debated in academic and parenting circles. At this moment the
Vitamin D theory still hasn't been proven scientifically, we'll have
to wait for further results to see if it really holds water. Until
then it certainly couldn't hurt to get a little extra sunshine.