Surreal illustration linking brain health, vitamin D, and heart health in children with ADHD and autism.

Unlocking the Connection: ADHD, Autism, and the Vital Role of Vitamin D

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 5 min read.

"Is there a link between ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Vitamin D Levels?"

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are distinct neurodevelopmental conditions that significantly impact children's lives. ADHD, characterized by hyperactivity and attention deficits, can hinder academic success and lead to disruptive behavior. ASD, a more heterogeneous group of disorders, is associated with genetic factors, advanced parental age, and birth complications. Understanding the underlying factors and potential links between these conditions is crucial for improving the well-being of affected individuals.

Emerging research suggests a potential link between ADHD, ASD, and cardiovascular health. Studies have shown that children with ADHD may have increased thickness of the carotid intima media, a marker of cardiovascular risk. Both ADHD and ASD are associated with higher body mass index (BMI), further increasing the risk of cardiovascular issues. Intriguingly, deficiencies in vitamin B12 and vitamin D have been observed in individuals with both ADHD and ASD, raising questions about their role in these conditions.

Given the frequent lack of essential nutrients like vitamins B12 and D, coupled with elevated oxidative stress, it is hypothesized that ADHD and ASD may elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease. A new study assessed the risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals with ADHD and ASD by examining mean platelet volume (MPV), an indicator of cardiovascular health, in both patient groups and healthy controls.

The Role of Platelets and Cardiovascular Health

Surreal illustration linking brain health, vitamin D, and heart health in children with ADHD and autism.

Platelets play a crucial role in blood clotting and the development of atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque builds up inside the arteries. When platelets become overly active, the risk of dangerous blood clots and related complications increases. This heightened activity has been linked to acute vascular events, prompting the use of anti-platelet agents as a standard treatment and preventive measure for coronary artery disease (CAD).

Recent research has increasingly connected platelet activity to the progression of atherosclerosis. Platelet function tests, while available, are often costly and primarily used in research settings rather than routine clinical practice. Mean platelet volume (MPV) provides a straightforward way to gauge platelet size, which may reflect platelet activity and its association with plaque accumulation and vulnerability in blood vessels.

Larger platelets: Younger and contain more granules.
Increased receptors: Exhibit greater adhesion receptor expression.
Metabolic activity: More metabolically and enzymatically active.
Thrombogenic potential: Demonstrate enhanced clot-forming capabilities.

A recent comprehensive analysis involving adults strongly suggests a correlation between MPV and CAD. This evidence underscores the importance of platelets and their characteristics in evaluating cardiovascular risk. The specific features, frequent lack of nutritional factors such as vitamins B12 and D, and high levels of oxidative stress in ADHD and ASD have led us to think that these disorders may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of our study was to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease in subjects with ADHD and ASD by determining the values of MPV, a predictor of cardiovascular disease, in both ADHD and ASD patients and in healthy controls.

Conclusion: Implications and Future Research

The study suggests that both ADHD and ASD may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to deficiencies in vitamins B12 and D, as well as the unique characteristics of these disorders. Given these findings, it is crucial to closely monitor individuals with ADHD and ASD for cardiovascular risk factors and address any nutritional deficiencies. The study did not find significant differences in MPV between the patient groups and the control group, which may be due to the limited number of participants. The vitamin D deficiency, particularly in the ADHD group, may have contributed to the elevated MPV level in the study by Yoruk et al. Further research with larger patient populations is needed to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.12659/msm.899976, Alternate LINK

Title: Association Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder And Autism Spectrum Disorders With Mean Platelet Volume And Vitamin D

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Medical Science Monitor

Publisher: International Scientific Information, Inc.

Authors: Mesut Garipardic, Murat Doğan, Keziban Asli Bala, Tuba Mutluer, Sultan Kaba, Oktay Aslan, Lokman Üstyol

Published: 2017-03-20

Everything You Need To Know

What are the key characteristics of ADHD and ASD, and how might they be related?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are distinct neurodevelopmental conditions. ADHD is characterized by hyperactivity and attention deficits, which can negatively affect academic performance and behavior. ASD is a more diverse group of disorders associated with genetic factors, advanced parental age, and birth complications. Emerging research points to a potential connection between these conditions and cardiovascular health, possibly due to deficiencies in vitamins B12 and D.

What indicators suggest a potential connection between ADHD, ASD, and cardiovascular health?

Research indicates that children with ADHD may exhibit increased thickness of the carotid intima media, a marker of cardiovascular risk. Both ADHD and ASD are associated with higher body mass index (BMI), increasing the likelihood of cardiovascular issues. Deficiencies in vitamin B12 and vitamin D have been observed in individuals with both ADHD and ASD, suggesting a potential link between nutritional deficiencies and cardiovascular risks in these populations. This is coupled with elevated oxidative stress which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

What role do platelets play in cardiovascular health, and how is mean platelet volume (MPV) used to assess cardiovascular risk?

Platelets are crucial for blood clotting and the development of atherosclerosis. Overly active platelets can increase the risk of dangerous blood clots and related complications, leading to acute vascular events. Anti-platelet agents are used as a standard treatment and preventive measure for coronary artery disease (CAD). Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a straightforward way to gauge platelet size, reflecting platelet activity and its association with plaque accumulation in blood vessels. Larger platelets, indicated by a higher MPV, are younger, contain more granules, exhibit greater adhesion receptor expression, are more metabolically active, and demonstrate enhanced clot-forming capabilities.

How did the study evaluate the risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals with ADHD and ASD, and what were the main findings regarding MPV levels?

The study assessed the risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals with ADHD and ASD by examining mean platelet volume (MPV). This study did not find significant differences in MPV between the patient groups (ADHD and ASD) and the control group. This may be due to the limited number of participants. The study suggests that both ADHD and ASD may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to frequent lack of nutritional factors such as vitamins B12 and D, as well as the unique characteristics of these disorders.

What are the implications of the study's findings for individuals with ADHD and ASD, and what future research is recommended?

Given the study findings, it's essential to monitor individuals with ADHD and ASD for cardiovascular risk factors and address any nutritional deficiencies, particularly vitamins B12 and D. The specific features, frequent lack of nutritional factors such as vitamins B12 and D, and high levels of oxidative stress in ADHD and ASD have led us to think that these disorders may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Future research should involve larger patient populations to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms, including the impact of vitamin D deficiency on MPV levels and cardiovascular risk in these populations. Additional research might include testing for the levels of vitamins B12 and D directly and accounting for other factors such as diet.