Environmental toxicity and susceptibility in autism.

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1: J Neurol Sci. 2008 Sep 24. [Epub ahead of print]

Biomarkers of environmental toxicity and susceptibility in autism.

http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/ sites/entrez/ 18817931

Geier DA, Kern JK, Garver CR, Adams JB, Audhya T, Nataf R, Geier MR.

Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, USA; CoMeD, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.

 

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may result from a combination of

genetic/biochemical susceptibilities in the form of a reduced ability

to excrete mercury and/or increased environmental exposure at key

developmental times. Urinary porphyrins and transsulfuration

metabolites in participants diagnosed with an ASD were examined. A

prospective, blinded study was undertaken to evaluate a cohort of 28

participants with an ASD diagnosis for Childhood Autism Rating Scale

(CARS) scores, urinary porphyrins, and transsulfuration metabolites.

Testing was conducted using Vitamin Diagnostics, Inc. (CLIA-approved)

and Laboratoire Philippe Auguste (ISO-approved) . Participants with

severe ASDs had significantly increased mercury intoxication-

associated urinary porphyrins (pentacarboxyporphy rin,

precoproporphyrin, and coproporphyrin) in comparison to participants

with mild ASDs, whereas other urinary porphyrins were similar in both

groups. Significantly decreased plasma levels of reduced glutathione

(GSH), cysteine, and sulfate were observed among study participants

relative to controls. In contrast, study participants had significantly

increased plasma oxidized glutathione (GSSG) relative to controls.

Mercury intoxication- associated urinary porphyrins were significantly

correlated with increasing CARS scores and GSSG levels, whereas other

urinary porphyrins did not show these relationships. The urinary

porphyrin and CARS score correlations observed among study participants

suggest that mercury intoxication is significantly associated with

autistic symptoms. The transsulfuration abnormalities observed among

study participants indicate that mercury intoxication was associated

with increased oxidative stress and decreased detoxification capacity.

 

PMID: 18817931

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