Authors: Gregory John Russell-Jones.
Studies have shown that deficiencies in iron, Iodine, vitamin B12 and vitamin D are independently associated with developmental delay in children. Whilst there is the possibility that these operate in independent fashion, there is also the possibility that these nutrients come together in some sort of Nexus, which is causative for developmental delay. Activation of vitamin D is a multi-enzyme process, which requires the contribution of several co-factors including iron, vitamin B2 and vitamin B12. We have used urinary phosphoric acid as a marker of functional vitamin D deficiency, and have compared various urinary metabolic markers with urinary phosphoric acid levels to follow the essential elements in vitamin D activation. Activation of vitamin D was dependent upon sufficient levels of iron, vitamin B2 and vitamin B12, which are required during the activation of vitamin D by a multi-enzyme complex of CYP27B1, adrenodoxin, and adrenodoxin reductase. The findings bring together the various causes of developmental delay into a central Nexus, which can potentially be used in the treatment and prevention of the condition.
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