When we essentially remove something as basic as sunlight from our lives, through changes in our lifestyles and in fear of skin cancer, we are likely altering many other subtle chemical and metabolic processes we really don’t understand. Often the ’same’ thing in pill (or in this case, fortified milk) form lacks many associated cofactors and effects of the natural source.

I think this research indicates more study is needed on -

(1) the vitamin D level in mothers whose children later develop autism during that child’s gestation and lactation as compared to similar mothers whose children do not.

(2) the levels during the same period of time of other nutrients, such as calcium, that depend on vitamin D for proper absorption. Since calcium is a critical cofactor in many enzymatic reactions, the effect of changing the level of calcium even slightly may be profound, especially when assembling a fetal brain

(3) the levels of other sunlight-related molecules, such as melatonin and melanin, at the same time in the mothers

(4) the relationship between vitamin D levels (and/or sunlight) and biological resistance to the effects of environmental and agricultural chemicals. I think this is particularly important, since there may be an indirect effect of vitamin D – that is, vitamin D may not itself be ‘causing’ or ‘preventing’ autism, but may alter the damage caused by other factors that have a more direct effect.

On a more philosophical level, I firmly believe that the ‘experts’ in our society seem to have forgotten that moderation in all things is important, including sun exposure.

It seems that this work many indicate that LACK of sun exposure may cause serious health issues also – and I would suspect we will eventually realize that autism may be just one of many.

Could it be that our mothers and grandmothers weren’t wrong, when they sent us out into the sun to play?