Abstract
A cross-sectional case–control study was carried out to evaluate the concentrations of metallic elements in the hair of 44 children with diagnosis of autism and 61 age-balanced controls. Unadjusted comparisons showed higher concentrations of molybdenum, lithium and selenium in autistic children. Logistic regression analysis confirmed the role of risk factor for male gender and showed a slight association with molybdenum concentrations. Unconventional chelation and vitamin-mineral supplementation were ineffective on elemental hair concentrations. A meta-analysis including the present and previous similar studies excluded any association of autism with hair concentrations of mercury, cadmium, selenium, lithium and copper. A slight association was found for lead only, but it was very weak, as strictly dependent on the worst data from one study.
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De Palma, G., Catalani, S., Franco, A. et al. Lack of Correlation Between Metallic Elements Analyzed in Hair by ICP-MS and Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 342–353 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1245-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1245-6