Abstract

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. The etiology of ASD involves gene-environmental interaction. Vitamin B12 and folic acid have important roles as methyl donor in many biosynthetic pathways, protein synthesis and formation of myelin sheath throughout the central nervous system. Therefore, deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid may act as environmental risk factor for ASD. Objective: To evaluate serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels in ASD children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Shahbag, Dhaka, from 2018 to 2019. Total 100 children 3-10 years of age were enrolled for this study.Among them fifty (50) diagnosed children with ASD were included in the study group. Fifty (50) healthy children constituted the control group. ASD children were selected from the Parent’s Forum for autistic children. No children were included receiving any vitamin supplementation or had acute illness. For this study, serum level of vitamin B12 and folic acid were measured by automated analyzer.For statistical analysis unpaired “t” test and chi square test were done. Result: The mean values of vitamin B12 and folic acid were significantly lower in ASD children than those of control group (p value <0.05). In addition 4% ASD children had vitamin B12 deficiency. Conclusion: Low serum vitamin B12 and folic acid was associated with ASD. J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2019, December; 14(2): 43-47

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v20i2.10540 J. Dhaka Med. Coll. 2011; 20(2): 141-145

Background:Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex disorder of neuronal development which may cause lifelong disability. The etiology of ASD involves gene-environmental interaction. Calcium signal is crucial for neuronal communication and neuro-plasticity and phosphate is related to neural energy metabolism. Therefore, deficiency of these minerals may act as an environmental risk factor for the development of ASD. Objective: To assess serum calcium and phosphate in children with ASD. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University(BSMMU) Dhaka from March 2018 to February 2019. For this, 50 ASD children of both sex (age 3 to10 years) diagnosed by pediatric neurologist were included as ‘Study’ participants through ‘Parents Forum of differently abled children, Mohakhali, Dhaka’ and for comparison, age, BMI and sex matched 50 apparently healthy children were enrolled, as ‘Control’. Serum calcium and phosphate level of all children were estimated by colorimetric method. All data were expressed as mean±SD, range and percentage. For statistical analysis, Chi- Square test, Shapiro Wilk test and independent sample ‘t’ test was done, as applicable. Results:The mean serum calcium was significantly (p<0.01) lower in ASD children compared to control, though the mean values were within normal reference range in both groups. However, hypophosphatemia was found in 4% of ASD children. Conclusion:From this study, it may be concluded that ASD children was associated with lower serum calcium level and hypophosphatemia.Therefore, adequate dietary intake of calcium and phosphate is recommended for children with ASD. J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2020, December; 15(2): 72-77

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