Prenatal vitamin D, multivitamin, and folic acid supplementation and brain structure in children with ADHD and ASD Traits: The Generation R study

This study explores the relationship between maternal vitamin supplementation during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, specifically Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Conducted within the Generation R cohort comprising 3937 children aged 9 to 11 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, it evaluates maternal vitamin D and folate serum levels, multivitamin usage, and overall dietary quality through Food Frequency Questionnaire assessments. Using T1 structural MRI scans analyzed via Freesurfer, the researchers segmented cortical and subcortical brain volumes into four independent components. ADHD and ASD traits were measured through parent-completed questionnaires: the Child Behavior Checklist and the Social Responsiveness Scale. The findings suggest that maternal vitamin D, multivitamin supplementation, and improved dietary quality are associated with a reduction in ADHD and ASD traits in offspring. Furthermore, maternal vitamin D and diet quality are linked to larger childhood brain volume components, which in turn are associated with fewer ADHD and ASD traits. The study suggests that part of the relationship between maternal dietary factors and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes is mediated through brain volume. Although the effect sizes observed were small, the authors advocate for additional population-based research to further elucidate the potential of gestational vitamin D and multivitamin exposure as preventive strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders. [NPID: ADHD, ASD, autism, vitamin d, folate, multivitamin, brain, child]

Year: 2025

Reference: Van Rooij, D., Mou, Y., White, T., Voortman, T., Jansen, P. W., & Buitelaar, J. K. (2025). Prenatal Vitamin D, Multivitamin, and Folic Acid Supplementation and Brain Structure in Children with ADHD and ASD Traits: The Generation R Study. Nutrients, 17(18), 2979. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17182979

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