Vitamin D deficiency: infertility and neurodevelopmental diseases (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and schizophrenia)

• Published in: American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology 2018-02, Vol.314 (2), p.C135-C151
• Main Author: Berridge, Michael J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - epidemiology; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - metabolism; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - physiopathology; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - psychology; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Autism; Autistic Disorder - epidemiology; Autistic Disorder - metabolism; Autistic Disorder - physiopathology; Autistic Disorder - psychology; Brain - metabolism; Brain - physiopathology; Calcium Signaling; Calcium signalling; Fertility; Fertilization; Genotype & phenotype; Humans; Infertility; Infertility - epidemiology; Infertility - metabolism; Infertility - physiopathology; Mental disorders; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Nutrient deficiency; Risk Factors; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - epidemiology; Schizophrenia - metabolism; Schizophrenia - physiopathology; Schizophrenic Psychology; Vitamin D; Vitamin D - metabolism; Vitamin D Deficiency - epidemiology; Vitamin D Deficiency - metabolism; Vitamin deficiency
• ISSN: 0363-6143; 1522-1563
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00188.2017

The process of development depends on a number of signaling systems that regulates the progressive sequence of developmental events. Infertility and neurodevelopmental diseases, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and schizophrenia, are caused by specific alterations in these signaling processes. Calcium signaling plays a prominent role throughout development beginning at fertilization and continuing through early development, implantation, and organ differentiation such as heart and brain development. Vitamin D plays a major role in regulating these signaling processes that control development. There is an increase in infertility and an onset of neurodevelopmental diseases when vitamin D is deficient. The way in which vitamin D deficiency acts to alter development is a major feature of this review. One of the primary functions of vitamin D is to maintain the phenotypic stability of both the Ca and redox signaling pathways that play such a key role throughout development.