Copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium profiles in subjects with autistic disorder according to their functioning level

Copper-deficiency is associated with impairments in social behavior and oligodendrocyte development via mTOR signaling pathway

“…Wilson's disease is a disorder in which mutations in the copper transporter ATP7B cause copper to accumulate in the body, resulting in motor and cognitive dysfunction, decreased motivation, and other psychiatric symptoms (31,32). However, in ASD, no conclusion has been reached about the increase or decrease of copper, and previous studies have used different samples such as whole blood, serum, hair, and saliva, as well as the races, regions, and measurement methods of the subjects, and there have been various reports of increases, no differences, or decreases (18,21,(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45). Additionally, the altered zinc-copper metabolic rhythmicity precedes the emergence of ASD (46).…”

“…Additionally, the altered zinc-copper metabolic rhythmicity precedes the emergence of ASD (46). Focusing on copper in blood samples from ASD individuals, an increased copper have been reported in serum of Chinese children with ASD (34), in plasma of autistic, Asperger's and PDD-NOS Individuals from the USA (37), in serum of autistic Individuals from Venezuela (38), or in plasma of ASD Individuals from China (21), in plasma of Autistic Children from India (39), in serum of ASD children from Russia (40), on the other hand, there are reports of no significant changes of copper in serum of children with ASD in Slovenia (41), serum of ASD children from the USA (42), whole blood of ASD children from Romania (43), in serum of ASD children from North America (44). Remarkably, consistent with our results, there was a report showing decreased copper in serum of ASD children from Chinese Han Population using about 100 samples in each group (45).…”