Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Autism: xenobiotic influences

S B Edelson1, D S Cantor

  • 1Environmental and Preventive Health Center of Atlanta, GA 30342, USA.

Toxicology and Industrial Health
|July 17, 1998
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Primary mesothelioma. A practical tutorial review.

Acta gastroenterologica Latinoamericana·2000
Same author

Colonic intussusception.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy·2000
Same author

Autism: xenobiotic influences.

Toxicology and industrial health·1999
Same author

Prostatic carcinoma simulating a rectal leiomyoma.

The American journal of gastroenterology·1996
Same author

Comprehensive predictions of outcome in closed head-injured patients. The development of prognostic equations.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·1991
Same author

Ingestion of carbohydrates varying in complexity produce differential brain responses.

Clinical EEG (electroencephalography)·1990

Chronic exposure to toxic agents may underlie autism. This study found all autistic children examined had abnormal liver detoxification and many had toxic chemical levels exceeding adult limits.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Toxicology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a suspected neurological basis, but its exact cause remains unclear.
  • Growing evidence suggests environmental factors, particularly exposure to xenobiotic agents (foreign chemical compounds) during development, may play a significant role.
  • Understanding the physiological mechanisms behind ASD is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential link between xenobiotic agent exposure and abnormal liver detoxification processes in children with autism.
  • To assess the levels of toxic chemicals in autistic children and compare them to established safety limits.
  • To explore the relationship between xenobiotic burden, liver function, and autistic behaviors.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • The study included 20 children formally diagnosed with autism (mean age 6.35 years).
  • Methods involved Glucaric Acid Analysis, blood tests for specific xenobiotic agents, and a Comprehensive Liver Detoxification Evaluation.
  • Statistical analysis, including Kolmogorov-Smirnov testing, was used to evaluate the data distributions.

Main Results:

  • All 20 participants (100%) exhibited liver detoxification profiles outside the normal range.
  • Out of 18 children tested, 16 showed toxic chemical levels exceeding adult maximum tolerance.
  • Abnormal D-glucaric acid findings were observed even in cases without detectable toxic chemical levels, suggesting impaired liver function.

Conclusions:

  • The findings strongly suggest a significant association between xenobiotic agent exposure, impaired liver detoxification, and autism spectrum disorder.
  • The study proposes a mechanism involving xenobiotic toxins, immune dysfunction, and endogenous toxicity in the development of autistic behaviors.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise role of environmental toxins in ASD etiology and progression.