Zinc status in autistic children

The transition metal zinc is an essential element for normal development and function of biological systems including the central nervous system (CNS). Zinc may be an important trace element for the etiology and symptoms of subgroups of autistic children because it is an essential catalytic or structural element of many proteins and important for neural activity and the control of neuronal death. The aim of this study was to evaluate zinc status in children with autistic disorder. Plasma, erythrocyte, and hair zinc levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the 45 and 39 autistic children, respectively. Forty-one healthy children in the same age group were selected as controls. Plasma and erythrocyte zinc levels in the autistic children were found to be significantly lower than normal (P < 0.05). The mean hair zinc level of the patients was also low when compared with that obtained from normal Turkish children. These results may indicate chronic zinc deficiency or metabolic abnormality of zinc in autistic children. Further studies are required to clarify underlying mechanisms. J. Trace. Elem. Exp. Med. 17:101–107, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.