Regulation of Dietary Amino Acids and Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism, or autism spectrum disorders (ASD), is one of the complex genetic diseases and its etiology is unknown for majority of the patients. It is characterized by deterioration in social interaction, communication, interests, imagination, and activities. As autism is a highly heterogeneous disorder, the symptoms can vary greatly in each affected individual. Oxidative stress implicates major pathogenesis of neurological disorders like ASD. Nutrients and dietary supplements play an important role in the health of an individual and there are several lines of evidence suggesting the role of dietary factors in the development or pathogenesis of ASD. The amino acids supplement has been found to reduce symptoms as they act as the precursors of neurotransmitters which in turn may extenuate mental disorders. The biosynthesis of amino acids in the brain is regulated by the concentration of amino acids in plasma. Amino acids are also considerable entities as they themselves, or peptides consisting of them, have profound antioxidant activities. Dietary constituents have an effect on the transport of amino acids across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) thus indirectly modulating the therapeutic value of amino acids. Among the other factors, voltage-gated calcium channels are directly linked to ASD as per results of genetic studies. Malfunctioning of these calcium channels causes ASD. The intricate biochemical and molecular machinery contributing to neurological disorders is still unknown. Here we discuss the preventive role of dietary amino acids against and regulation of voltage-gated calcium channels on ASD.