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Published on: January 22, 2017
Metallomics analysis for early assessment and individualized intervention of neurodevelopmental disorders
Hiroshi Yasuda1,2, Toyoharu Tsutsui1
1La Belle Vie, Research Laboratory, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Infants with autism often have zinc deficiency and toxic metal exposure. Early mineral imbalance assessment may offer future individualized treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Metallomics
- Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Environmental Toxicology
Background:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, are increasingly prevalent in children.
- Mineral imbalances and toxic metal exposure are potential contributing factors.
- Scalp hair analysis is a viable method for assessing long-term elemental exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between mineral status and toxic metal burdens in children with autistic disorders.
- To identify specific mineral deficiencies and excesses associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
- To explore the potential role of metallomics in understanding the etiology of autism.
Main Methods:
- Metallomics analysis of scalp hair samples from 2550 children (aged 0-15 years) with autistic disorders.
- Statistical analysis to determine correlations between zinc, iron, copper, lead, aluminum, molybdenum, and manganese levels.
- Assessment of zinc/iron and zinc/copper ratios in relation to toxic metal burdens.
Main Results:
- Nearly half of infants (0-3 years) showed zinc deficiency and toxic metal burdens.
- Zinc deficiency was inversely associated with lead and aluminum burdens (r = -0.486, -0.551).
- Significant inverse relationships were found between zinc/molybdenum and zinc/iron/molybdenum ratios (r = -0.509, -0.548).
Conclusions:
- Infantile zinc deficiency is linked to high burdens of toxic and essential metals (molybdenum, iron, manganese).
- These mineral imbalances may play a key role in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Early assessment and intervention for mineral dis-homeostasis could lead to individualized treatments for neurodevelopmental and immune disorders.
Abstract:
The children today are in the midst of the epidemic of neurodevelopmental disorders. In this metallomics study for the scalp hair samples of total 2550 children with autistic disorders (2108 males and 442 females aged 0-15 years), it was demonstrated that near one-half of the infantile individuals aged 0-3 years are suffering from zinc deficiency and toxic metal burdens. Zinc level correlated closely to the index of zinc/iron ratio more than zinc/copper ratio. Furthermore, there were significant relationships between zinc deficiency and toxic metal burdens such as lead and aluminum, which were inversely associated with not only zinc level but also zinc/iron ratio with higher regression coefficients of r = -0.486 and -0.551 (P < 0.00001), respectively. High-significant inverse association was detected between zinc and molybdenum concentration (r = -0.509) and also between zinc/iron ratio and molybdenum (r = -0.548). These findings suggest that infantile zinc deficiency relates to the high burdens of not only toxic but also some essential metals such as molybdenum, iron, and manganese and that these various mineral imbalances play principal roles in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders. We expect that the early assessment and intervention of the mineral imbalances (or dis-homeostasis) in individual child open an avenue for evidence-based individualized treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders and also of the comorbid immune disorders, in near future.
