The role of cholesterol metabolism and various steroid abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders : a hypothesis paper

Gillberg, C; Fernell, E; Kočovská, E; Minnis, H; Bourgeron, T; Thompson, L; Allely, CS

Abstract

Based on evidence from the relevant research literature, we present a hypothesis that there may be a link between cholesterol, vitamin D, and steroid hormones which subsequently impacts on the development of at least some of the “autisms” [Coleman & Gillberg]. Our hypothesis, driven by the peer reviewed literature, posits that there may be links between cholesterol metabolism, which we will refer to as “steroid metabolism” and findings of steroid abnormalities of various kinds (cortisol, testosterone, estrogens, progesterone, vitamin D) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Further research investigating these potential links is warranted to further our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying ASD. Autism Res 2017. © 2017 The Authors Autism Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Autism Research.

Citation

Gillberg, C., Fernell, E., Kočovská, E., Minnis, H., Bourgeron, T., Thompson, L., & Allely, C. (2017). The role of cholesterol metabolism and various steroid abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders : a hypothesis paper. Autism Research, 10(6), 1022-1044. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1777

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 30, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Apr 12, 2017
• Publication Date: Jun 20, 2017
• Deposit Date: May 5, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: May 5, 2017
• Journal: Autism Research
• Print ISSN: 1939-3792
• Electronic ISSN: 1939-3806
• Publisher: Wiley
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1022-1044
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1777
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.1777
• Related Public URLs: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1939-3806