Do Prenatal Vitamin D Supplements Decrease the Severity of Rett Syndrome?

Diana Ghebrezadik, Agnes Scott College ‘21

dianaghebrezadik@gmail.com

Rett syndrome is a genetic neurodevelopmental condition characterized by learning, memory, and sensory impairments, loss of motor and language skills, irregular breathing, and seizures. Studies have shown that there is low bone mass in individuals with Rett syndrome that differs depending on the severity of the disease. Vitamin D deficiency is involved in calcium absorption and bone formation. Different neurodevelopmental disorders, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit disorder are all associated with vitamin D deficiency. Numerous studies have also shown that Vitamin D deficiency is associated with impairments in learning and memory, excitatory and inhibitory imbalance, and dendritic outgrowth with are also characteristics of MeCP2 mutation. This review explores whether prenatal vitamin D supplement has the potential to decrease the severity of Rett syndrome.