A case–control study on the relationship between urine trace element levels and autism spectrum disorder among Iranian children

Rezaei, Mohammad; Rezaei, Azam; Esmaeili, Aliakbar; Nakhaee, Samaneh; Azadi, Nammam Ali; Mansouri, Borhan

doi:10.1007/s11356-022-19933-1

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Abd Wahil et al [ 30 ] reported a significantly lower mean urine Pb level in cases (0.26 ± 0.31 μg/dL) than in controls (0.58 ± 0.41 μg/dL), but cases and controls were not from the same place of residence in Malaysia. Rezaei et al [ 101 ] reported significantly higher urine Pb levels in cases (6.19 ± 4.91 μg/dL) than in controls (2.11 ± 1.5 µg/L), but the authors claimed in one place in their paper that the results were presented as the median ± IQR and in another that the same results were presented as the median ± SD; therefore, this study was not clear to us and was not included in our meta-analysis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Lead Have a Connection to Autism? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Stojsavljević,

Lakićević,

Pavlović

2023

Toxics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Environmental pollutants, particularly toxic trace metals with neurotoxic potential, have been related to the genesis of autism. One of these metals that stands out, in particular, is lead (Pb). We conducted an in-depth systematic review and meta-analysis of peer-reviewed studies on Pb levels in biological materials retrieved from autistic children (cases) and neurotypical children (controls) in this work. A systematic review was conducted after the careful selection of published studies according to established criteria to gain a broad insight into the higher or lower levels of Pb in the biological materials of cases and controls, and the findings were then strengthened by a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis included 17 studies (hair), 13 studies (whole blood), and 8 studies (urine). The overall number of controls/cases was 869/915 (hair), 670/755 (whole blood), and 344/373 (urine). This meta-analysis showed significantly higher Pb levels in all three types of biological material in cases than in controls, suggesting a higher body Pb burden in autistic children. Thus, environmental Pb exposure could be related to the genesis of autism. Since no level of Pb can be considered safe, the data from this study undoubtedly point to the importance of regularly monitoring Pb levels in autistic children.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Lead Have a Connection to Autism? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Stojsavljević,

Lakićević,

Pavlović

2023

Toxics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For the present Opinion, the CONTAM Panel identified 27 studies on associations between As exposure and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from a literature search (see Section 2 on methodology). Out of these, 16 studies did not meet the inclusion criteria and were thus not considered further (Adams et al., 2013 ; Amadi et al., 2022 ; Baj et al., 2021 ; Elsheshtawy et al., 2011 ; Fiore et al., 2020 ; Geier et al., 2012 ; Li, Li, et al., 2018 ; Majewska et al., 2010 ; Rahbar et al., 2012 , 2021 ; Rezaei et al., 2022 ; Skogheim et al., 2021 ; Vergani et al., 2011 ; Wang, Hossain, et al., 2019 ; Yorbik et al., 2009 ; Zhao et al., 2022 ). Eleven studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria are described in detail in Table 21 .…”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Update of the risk assessment of inorganic arsenic in food

Schrenk,

Bignami,

Bodin

et al. 2024

EFS2

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2009 risk assessment on arsenic in food carrying out a hazard assessment of inorganic arsenic (iAs) and using the revised exposure assessment issued by EFSA in 2021. Epidemiological studies show that the chronic intake of iAs via diet and/or drinking water is associated with increased risk of several adverse outcomes including cancers of the skin, bladder and lung. The CONTAM Panel used the benchmark dose lower confidence limit based on a benchmark response (BMR) of 5% (relative increase of the background incidence after adjustment for confounders, BMDL05) of 0.06 μg iAs/kg bw per day obtained from a study on skin cancer as a Reference Point (RP). Inorganic As is a genotoxic carcinogen with additional epigenetic effects and the CONTAM Panel applied a margin of exposure (MOE) approach for the risk characterisation. In adults, the MOEs are low (range between 2 and 0.4 for mean consumers and between 0.9 and 0.2 at the 95th percentile exposure, respectively) and as such raise a health concern despite the uncertainties.

show abstract

“…Epidemiological studies show that arsenic exposure during critical periods of neurodevelopment could pose as an environmental risk factor for autism development [ 18 , 19 ]. Significantly higher levels of arsenic in the urine [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ], blood [ 24 ], and hair [ 22 ] of children with autism have also been reported [ 20 , 21 ]. Arsenic exposure through drinking water at 10–50 ppb has been shown to cause peripheral neuropathy in humans [ 25 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurogenic Effects of Inorganic Arsenic and Cdk5 Knockdown in Zebrafish Embryos: A Perspective on Modeling Autism

Gu,

Kanungo

2024

IJMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The exact mechanisms of the development of autism, a multifactorial neurological disorder, are not clear. The pathophysiology of autism is complex, and investigations at the cellular and molecular levels are ongoing to provide clarity. Mutations in specific genes have been identified as risk factors for autism. The role of heavy metals in the pathogenesis of autism is subject to many studies and remains debatable. Although no exact neuronal phenotypes have been identified linked to autistic symptoms, overproduction and reduction of specific neurons have been implicated. A growing literature on generating genetic and non-genetic models of autism aims to help with understanding mechanistic studies that can explain the complexity of the disorder. Both genetic and non-genetic methods of zebrafish have been used to model autism. For several human autism risk genes, validated zebrafish mutant models have been generated. There is growing evidence indicating a potential link between autism and inorganic arsenic exposure. We have previously shown that inorganic arsenic induces supernumerary spinal motor neurons via Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway, and Cdk5 knockdown causes an overproduction of cranial and spinal motor neurons in zebrafish. Here, in this review, we provide a perspective on what these findings of neurogenic phenotypes mean in terms of dysregulated pathways of motor neuron development and their applicability to understanding cellular and molecular underpinnings of autism.

show abstract

A case–control study on the relationship between urine trace element levels and autism spectrum disorder among Iranian children

Cited by 10 publications

References 35 publications

Does Lead Have a Connection to Autism? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Does Lead Have a Connection to Autism? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Update of the risk assessment of inorganic arsenic in food

Neurogenic Effects of Inorganic Arsenic and Cdk5 Knockdown in Zebrafish Embryos: A Perspective on Modeling Autism

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About