The proposed mechanism involving vitamin D and serotonin may explain the high prevalence of autism in males and the presence of maternal antibodies against fetal brain tissue in mothers of autistic children.

“it also explains the the high male prevalence with autism well in addition to vitamin D activating tph2 to increase serotonin estrogen also activates this this Gene so there's sort of a a a a backup mechanism in in female fetuses it's been shown from anionic fluid that female fetuses have higher levels of estrogen they also have higher levels of estrogen neonatally right after birth so it's possible that if a mother is deficient in vitamin D and she's carrying a female child there's a backup system because that estrogen is able to activate the same gene that vitamin D activates but if it's a male fetus they don't have that backup system and they may be more susceptible to having the low serotonin which would then affect the brain development and um possibly lead to autistic like behaviors and lastly I I I mentioned that we think that the the vitamin D regulated serotonin may explain the high maternal Auto antibody to fetal brain tissue”