Assessment of Infantile Mineral Imbalances in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)

Abstract

The interactions between genes and the environment are now regarded as the most probable explanation for autism. In this review, we summarize the results of a metallomics study in which scalp hair concentrations of 26 trace elements were examined for 1,967 autistic children (1,553 males and 414 females aged 0–15 years-old), and discuss recent advances in our understanding of epigenetic roles of infantile mineral imbalances in the pathogenesis of autism. In the 1,967 subjects, 584 (29.7%) and 347 (17.6%) were found deficient in zinc and magnesium, respectively, and the incidence rate of zinc deficiency was estimated at 43.5% in male and 52.5% in female infantile subjects aged 0–3 years-old. In contrast, 339 (17.2%), 168 (8.5%) and 94 (4.8%) individuals were found to suffer from high burdens of aluminum, cadmium and lead, respectively, and 2.8% or less from mercury and arsenic. High toxic metal burdens were more frequently observed in the infants aged 0–3 years-old, whose incidence rates were 20.6%, 12.1%, 7.5%, 3.2% and 2.3% for aluminum, cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury, respectively. These findings suggest that infantile zinc- and magnesium-deficiency and/or toxic metal burdens may be critical and induce epigenetic alterations in the genes and genetic regulation mechanisms of neurodevelopment in the autistic children, and demonstrate that a time factor “infantile window” is also critical for neurodevelopment and probably for therapy. Thus, early metallomics analysis may lead to early screening/estimation and treatment/prevention for the autistic neurodevelopment disorders.

Role of Metabolic Genes in Blood Aluminum Concentrations of Jamaican Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Other studies have reported higher levels of aluminum in the hair [45,46,47] and urine [48] of children with ASD compared to children without ASD. Although it appears that our results contrast with results from other studies, the difference could be due to the differences in methods of assessment of aluminum concentrations; we determined the concentration of aluminum in blood while these other studies assessed aluminum concentrations in hair and urine.…”

“…Higher levels of aluminum were observed in the hair [45,46,47] and urine [48] of children with ASD, compared to children without ASD. One study from Egypt additionally found that the level of aluminum in children’s hair was positively correlated with the use of aluminum pans in the home [45].…”

Zinc deficiency and low enterocyte zinc transporter expression in human patients with autism related mutations in SHANK3

“…In humans, Zn deficiency has additionally been associated with several neuropsychiatric diseases such as depression and autism2728293031. However, the pathophysiological correlations between Zn, Cu and ASD or PMDS are, especially on a molecular level, currently not well understood.…”

The Role of Heavy Metal Pollution in Neurobehavioral Disorders: a Focus on Autism

“…In particular, the highest body burden (12.1 %) was observed in the infants aged 0-3 years, as already observed for lead, suggesting the existence of a critical period during neurodevelopment in which mineral imbalances of environmental toxic metals may induce epigenetic alterations and neurodevelopmental disorders Yasuda and Tsutsui 2013). Previously, the same authors had reported that not only Cd highest burden level was present in infants aged 0-3 years old but the metal mainly accumulated in females (Yasuda et al 2012).…”