Autism is an important public health problem in the United States with a reported
increase in incidence and prevalence over the last 2–3 decades [
1
,
2
,
3
,
4
]. Some of this trend could be due to a true increase in this condition and some due
to changes in diagnostic patterns [
5
,
6
]. The recent article by Román proposes maternal hypothyroxinemia as an important cause
of autism [
[7]
] with which I strongly agree. Román provides convincing evidence for his hypothesis.
Maternal hypothyroxinemia can result from a number of different pathways and etiologies,
including iodine deficiency. A diet deficient in iodine can result in a wide range
of negative effects on the developing fetus, from mild IQ loss to severe mental retardation,
i.e., cretinism [
[8]
]. There has also been an association between iodine deficiency and attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [
[9]
], another condition that has been increasing in the US [
- Vermiglio F.
- Lo Presti V.P.
- Moleti M.
- Sidoti M.
- Tortorella G.
- Scaffidi G.
- et al.
Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders in the offspring of mothers exposed
to mild-moderate iodine deficiency: a possible novel iodine deficiency disorder in
developed countries.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004; 89: 6054-6060
3
,
10
].To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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References
- The incidence of autism in Olmsted Country, Minnesota, 1976–1997: results from a population-based study.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005; 159: 37-44
- What's going on? The question of time trends in autism.Public Health Rep. 2004; 119: 536-551
- Trends in diagnosis rates for autism and ADHD at hospital discharge in the context of other psychiatric diagnoses.Psychiatr Serv. 2005; 56: 56-62
- National autism prevalence trends from United States special education data.Pediatrics. 2005; 115: e277-e282
- The autism epidemic: fact or artifact?.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psych. 2007; 46: 721-730
- Iodine deficiency as a cause of autism?.in: BMJ, rapid responses. 2004 (http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/328/7433/226-c#78048)
- Autism: transient in utero hypothyroxinemia related to maternal flavonoid ingestion during pregnancy and to other environmental antithyroid agents.J Neurol Sci. 2007; 262: 15-26
- Iodine deficiency as a cause of brain damage.Postgrad Med J. 2001; 77: 217-220
- Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders in the offspring of mothers exposed to mild-moderate iodine deficiency: a possible novel iodine deficiency disorder in developed countries.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004; 89: 6054-6060
- National trends in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Am J Psychiatry. 2003; 160: 1071-1077
- Iodine nutrition in the United States. Trends and public health implications: iodine excretion data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys I and III (1971–74 and 1988–1994).J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998; 83: 3401-3408
- Urinary iodine concentrations: United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2002.Thyroid. 2005; 15: 692-699
- Iodine supplementation for pregnancy and lactation — United States and Canada: recommendations of the American Thyroid Association (letter to the editor).Thyroid. 2007; 17: 483-484
- Iodine supplementation for pregnancy and lactation — United States and Canada: recommendations of the American Thyroid Association.Thyroid. 2006; 16: 949-951
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
September 17,
2008
Received:
November 1,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
