Elemental analysis of hair provides biomarkers of maternal hardship linked to adverse behavioural outcomes in 4-year-old children: The QF2011 Queensland Flood Study

Ambeskovic, Mirela; Laplante, David P.; Kenney, Thomas; Elgbeili, Guillaume; Beaumier, Pierre; Azat, Nagy; Simcock, Gabrielle; Kildea, Sue; King, Suzanne; Metz, Gerlinde A. S.

doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2022.127036

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…For example, given the finding that higher county crime rates were associated with lower 25(OH)D levels ( 67 ), nutritional deficits may be one pathway by which neighborhood disorder increases risk for aggressive behavior. One study documented that magnesium levels mediated the relationship between greater maternal hardship following a natural disaster and boys’ externalizing behavior at age 4 years ( 68 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional factors associated with aggression

Choy

2023

Front. Psychiatry

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Although the vast majority of patients in forensic psychiatry are treated using pharmacological agents, clinical and ethical concerns about their use have led to the consideration of alternative strategies to reduce aggression that is common in forensic psychiatric settings. One non-invasive and benign biologically-based treatment approach involves nutrition. This article provides a mini-review of the recent evidence on four salient nutritional factors associated with aggressive behavior, namely omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc. The current evidence base indicates that lower omega-3 levels are associated with increased aggression. Although research on vitamin D and zinc in relation to aggressive behavior is more limited, there is initial evidence that they are negatively associated with aggression in healthy participants and in psychiatric samples. The relationship between magnesium and aggression varies depending on how magnesium is assessed. Findings from experimental trials reveal that nutritional intervention in the form of omega-3 supplementation has the potential to serve as an effective mode of treatment, with effects that can last beyond the intervention period. There is also support for the utility of nutrition to improve our understanding of how social processes are linked to aggression. In light of the nascent, but promising findings on the role of nutritional factors on aggressive behavior, directions for future research are discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional factors associated with aggression

Choy

2023

Front. Psychiatry

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“…Hair grows at a rate of 1–1.5 cm per month and thus provides information on long-term exposure to Pb relative to body fluids [ 54 ]. Hair Pb profiling, according to Ambeskovic et al [ 86 ], could provide a non-invasive and cost-effective health screening tool with predictive and diagnostic purposes, allowing risk assessment for vulnerable mothers and their offspring.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Contrarily, they found significantly higher hair Pb in 34 cases (1.49 µg/g) than in the same age group of 30 children with cerebral palsy (0.69 µg/g). Ambeskovic et al [ 86 ] analyzed Pb in hair collected from 75 children whose mothers experienced a natural disaster (mid-January 2011, Queensland Flood, Australia) during pregnancy. They did not find any association between this maternal prenatal stress and altered Pb levels in 4-year-old children.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Stojsavljević,

Lakićević,

Pavlović

2023

Toxics

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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.

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“…Importantly, higher CRH has been linked to reduced fetal adaptation to the uterine environment, resulting in lower birth weight and slower fetal growth [1]. In addition, work on the same study found an association between low levels of maternal hardship, high hair copper levels, and language developmental deficits in 4-year-old boys [32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Urinary 1H NMR Metabolomic Analysis of Prenatal Maternal Stress Due to a Natural Disaster Reveals Metabolic Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases: The QF2011 Queensland Flood Study

et al. 2023

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Prenatal stress alters fetal programming, potentially predisposing the ensuing offspring to long-term adverse health outcomes. To gain insight into environmental influences on fetal development, this QF2011 study evaluated the urinary metabolomes of 4-year-old children (n = 89) who were exposed to the 2011 Queensland flood in utero. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to analyze urinary metabolic fingerprints based on maternal levels of objective hardship and subjective distress resulting from the natural disaster. In both males and females, differences were observed between high and low levels of maternal objective hardship and maternal subjective distress groups. Greater prenatal stress exposure was associated with alterations in metabolites associated with protein synthesis, energy metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. These alterations suggest profound changes in oxidative and antioxidative pathways that may indicate a higher risk for chronic non-communicable diseases such obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes, as well as mental illnesses, including depression and schizophrenia. Thus, prenatal stress-associated metabolic biomarkers may provide early predictors of lifetime health trajectories, and potentially serve as prognostic markers for therapeutic strategies in mitigating adverse health outcomes.

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Elemental analysis of hair provides biomarkers of maternal hardship linked to adverse behavioural outcomes in 4-year-old children: The QF2011 Queensland Flood Study

Cited by 6 publications

References 82 publications

Nutritional factors associated with aggression

Nutritional factors associated with aggression

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

Urinary 1H NMR Metabolomic Analysis of Prenatal Maternal Stress Due to a Natural Disaster Reveals Metabolic Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases: The QF2011 Queensland Flood Study

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