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Urinary p-cresol is elevated in small children with severe autism spectrum disorder

Laura Altieri1, Cristina Neri, Roberto Sacco

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, Rome, Italy.

Biomarkers : Biochemical Indicators of Exposure, Response, and Susceptibility to Chemicals
|February 19, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Elevated urinary p-cresol, a compound linked to gut bacteria, may indicate autism risk in young children. This biomarker appears more prevalent in females and severely affected autistic children.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Gut microbiota alterations are increasingly implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Specific bacterial strains can ferment tyrosine to produce p-cresol, a compound of interest in ASD research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate urinary p-cresol levels as a potential biomarker for autism liability.
  • To determine if p-cresol levels correlate with age, sex, or severity of autism symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • High-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet was used to measure urinary p-cresol concentrations.
  • A case-control study design compared 59 autistic children with matched controls.
  • Urinary cotinine levels were measured to rule out smoking-related contamination.

Main Results:

  • Urinary p-cresol was significantly elevated in autistic children under 8 years old (p < 0.01).
  • Elevated levels were particularly noted in females (p < 0.05) and more severely affected children (p < 0.05).
  • Cotinine levels confirmed no significant smoking-related hydrocarbon interference.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated urinary p-cresol may serve as a potential biomarker for autism liability in young children.
  • The biomarker appears particularly relevant for females and more severely affected autistic children, irrespective of sex.

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