Toxic Metals and Essential Elements in Hair and Severity of Symptoms among Children with Autism
- PMID: 23118818
- PMCID: PMC3484795
Toxic Metals and Essential Elements in Hair and Severity of Symptoms among Children with Autism
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the levels of ten toxic metals and essential elements in hair samples of children with autism, and to correlate the level of these elements with the severity of autism.
Method: The participants were 44 children, age 3 to 9 years, with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition, (DSM-IV). The severity of autistic symptomatology was measured by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Hair analysis was performed to evaluate the long term metal exposure and mineral level.
Results: By comparing hair concentration of autistic vs nonautistic children, elevated hair concentrations were noted for aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, antimony, nickel, lead, and vanadium. Hair levels of calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, and selenium were considered deficient. There was a significant positive correlation between lead & verbal communication (p = 0.020) and general impression (p = 0.008). In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between zinc & fear and nervousness (p = 0.022).
Conclusion: Our data supports the historic evidence that heavy metals play a role in the development of ASD. In combination with an inadequate nutritional status the toxic effect of metals increase along with the severity of symptoms.
Keywords: echocardiography; mortality; prognosis; pulmonary hypertension; right heart catheterization.
Similar articles
-
Heavy metals and trace elements in hair and urine of a sample of arab children with autistic spectrum disorder.Maedica (Bucur). 2011 Oct;6(4):247-57. Maedica (Bucur). 2011. PMID: 22879836 Free PMC article.
-
HAIR HEAVY METAL AND ESSENTIAL TRACE ELEMENT CONCENTRATION IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.Georgian Med News. 2015 Nov;(248):77-82. Georgian Med News. 2015. PMID: 26656556
-
Heavy metals and trace elements in hair samples of autistic children in central Saudi Arabia.Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2005 Jul;10(3):213-8. Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2005. PMID: 22473261
-
Systematic review and meta-analysis links autism and toxic metals and highlights the impact of country development status: Higher blood and erythrocyte levels for mercury and lead, and higher hair antimony, cadmium, lead, and mercury.Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2017 Oct 3;79(Pt B):340-368. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.07.011. Epub 2017 Jul 14. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2017. PMID: 28716727 Review.
-
Autism spectrum disorder: Trace elements imbalances and the pathogenesis and severity of autistic symptoms.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Oct;129:117-132. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.07.029. Epub 2021 Jul 31. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021. PMID: 34339708 Review.
Cited by
-
Update of the risk assessment of inorganic arsenic in food.EFSA J. 2024 Jan 18;22(1):e8488. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8488. eCollection 2024 Jan. EFSA J. 2024. PMID: 38239496 Free PMC article.
-
Zinc Status and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review.Nutrients. 2023 Aug 21;15(16):3663. doi: 10.3390/nu15163663. Nutrients. 2023. PMID: 37630853 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Reference Values on Children's Hair for 28 Elements (Heavy Metals and Essential Elements) Based on a Pilot Study in a Representative Non-Contaminated Local Area.Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May 1;24(9):8127. doi: 10.3390/ijms24098127. Int J Mol Sci. 2023. PMID: 37175834 Free PMC article.
-
Cadmium Exposure Is Associated with Behavioral Deficits and Neuroimmune Dysfunction in BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mice.Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 31;24(7):6575. doi: 10.3390/ijms24076575. Int J Mol Sci. 2023. PMID: 37047547 Free PMC article.
-
The Influence of Environmental Exposure to Heavy Metals on the Occurrence of Selected Elements in the Maxillary Bone.Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jan 29;24(3):2552. doi: 10.3390/ijms24032552. Int J Mol Sci. 2023. PMID: 36768877 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Filipek PA, Accardo PJ, Baranek GT, et al. The screening and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism & Develop Dis. 1999;29:439–484. - PubMed
-
- Bailey A, Phillips W, Rutter M. Autism towards an Integration of Clinical, Genetic, Neuro-psychological, and Neurobiological Perspectives. J Child Psychol Psych. 1996;37:89–126. - PubMed
-
- Bernard S, Enayati A, Redwood L, et al. Autism: A novel form of Mercury Poisoning. Med Hypotheses. 2001;56:462–471. - PubMed
-
- Wecker L, Miller SB, Cochran SR, et al. Trace Element Concentrations in Hair from Autistic Children. J Ment Defic Res. 1985;29:15–22. - PubMed
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources