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Hair toxic and essential trace elements in children with autism spectrum disorder

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Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate hair trace elements content in children suffering from autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 74 ASD children and 74 sex- and age-matched controls divided into two age groups (2–4 and 5–9 years) were investigated. Hair trace elements content was assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A general cohort of ASD children was characterized by 29 %, 41 %, and 24 % lower hair levels of chromium (Cr), iodine (I), and vanadium (V), respectively, whereas the level of selenium (Se) exceeded the respective control values by 31 %. In ASD children aged 2–4 years hair Cr, I and V content was 68 %, 36 % and 41 % lower than in the controls. Older ASD children were characterized by 45 % increase in hair Se levels. In a general cohort of ASD children hair beryllium (Be) and tin (Sn) levels were 50 % and 34 % lower than the control values. In the first age group (2–4 years) of ASD children 34 %, 42 %, and 73 % lower levels of arsenic (As), boron (B), and Be were detected. In the second age group of ASD children only a nearly significant 25 % decrease in hair lead (Pb) was detected. Surprisingly, no significant group difference in hair mercury (Hg), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) content was detected. Generally, the results of the present study demonstrate that children with ASD are characterized by lower values in hair of not only essential but also toxic trace elements.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was financially supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation on the program to improve the competitiveness of Peoples’ Friendship University (RUDN) University among the world’s leading research and education centers in 2016 – 2020.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. All-Russian Research Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Moscow, Russia

    Anatoly V. Skalny

  2. Orenburg State University, Orenburg, Russia

    Anatoly V. Skalny, Alexandr A. Nikonorov & Alexey A. Tinkov

  3. Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia

    Anatoly V. Skalny, Andrei R. Grabeklis & Alexey A. Tinkov

  4. RUDN University, Moscow, Russia

    Anatoly V. Skalny, Margarita G. Skalnaya & Alexey A. Tinkov

  5. Scientific Center for Mental Health, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russia

    Natalia V. Simashkova & Tatiana P. Klyushnik

  6. Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Mo i Rana, Norway

    Geir Bjørklund

  7. Russian Society of Trace Elements in Medicine, Moscow, Russia

    Margarita G. Skalnaya

  8. Department of Biochemistry, Orenburg State Medical University, Orenburg, Russia

    Alexandr A. Nikonorov & Alexey A. Tinkov

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  1. Anatoly V. Skalny
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  2. Natalia V. Simashkova
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Correspondence to Anatoly V. Skalny.

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Skalny, A.V., Simashkova, N.V., Klyushnik, T.P. et al. Hair toxic and essential trace elements in children with autism spectrum disorder. Metab Brain Dis 32, 195–202 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-016-9899-6

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