Faculty Publications

Speculations On Vitamin K, Vkorc1 Genotype And Autism

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Autism, Autism etiology, Somali, Vitamin K, VKORC1

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Medical Hypotheses

Volume

96

First Page

30

Last Page

33

Abstract

Humans vary in the gene that encodes for Vitamin K epoxide reductase complex (VKORC1). Recent research has documented the protective effect of Vitamin K on neural cells and its role in maintaining normal neural development. Of interest, specific neural effects of Vitamin K overlap with key brain development aberrations, including those associated with autism. Furthermore, Vitamin K protects against oxidative stress associated with toxic exposure. Research on the neural effects is reviewed, and a small sample of severely autistic children of Somali descent residing in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area of Minnesota were genotyped and found to have a higher than expected genetic substitution that results in reduction in the efficiency of the Vitamin K cycle. The possibility that this genetic difference could play an etiological role in the development of autism is considered.

Department

Department of Psychology

Original Publication Date

11-1-2016

DOI of published version

10.1016/j.mehy.2016.09.013

Repository

UNI ScholarWorks, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

Link to Full Text

Comments?

Share

COinS