Vitamin D’s suspected role in preventing the development of childhood autism is being met head-on by California’s Vitamin D Council, which this week opened a free clinic to treat vitamin D deficiency in children with autism.

“Studies show that many children with autism have low vitamin D levels and some parents have reported that some children appeared to show a treatment effect when vitamin D blood levels achieve high normal ranges,” Vitamin D Council founder Dr. John Cannell wrote in the Council’s newsletter Monday. “We do not promise any such treatment effect, only that an adequate dose of vitamin D will treat vitamin D deficiency. The entire goal of the clinic is to bring vitamin D levels up to the high normal range.”

The clinic consists of free autism rating scales for parents and teachers, free vitamin D blood tests (up to $65.00 per test), free visits or phone calls with Dr. John Cannell, and, if needed, free vitamin D supplements. For more information, email the Vitamin D Council’s Development Director Brant Cebulla at bcebulla@vitamindcouncil.org

The Council asks that, before emailing, you read the following five articles addressing the scope of work on vitamin D and autism:

– Glazer, G: What If Vitamin D Deficiency Is a Cause of Autism? Scientific American, April 24, 2009

– Deans, E: Autism and Vitamin D. Psychology Today, April 25, 2011

– Goepp, J: The Link Between Autism and Low Levels of Vitamin D. Life Extension Magazine, April, 2009

– Autism, Patient Friendly Summary. Vitamin D Council, 2011

– Cannell, JJ: On the Aetiology of Autism. Acta Paediatrica, May 10, 2010