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Subject Area

Neuropsychiatry

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective To Assess serum trace elements and electrolytes in Egyptian children with autism. Background The relationship between plasma levels of trace elements in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has polarized the interest of many physiologists in recent years owing to the evidence that the impaired homeostatic regulation of trace elements, their levels in the bloodstream, and their potential neurotoxicity, altogether contribute to the ASD etiology. Patients and methods It is a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted on 60 children aged 3–12 years old, both sexes, and all social classes. Results The study showed a highly significant decrease in serum zinc in patient sample, which was 75.53 ± 18.585, in comparison with the control sample, which was 106.27 ± 14.714. It is highly significant, P value is less than 0.001. There was a highly significant difference between zinc/copper ratio and copper/zinc ratio. Zinc/copper ratio of patient was 0.5747 ± 0.14793, whereas for control was 0.9233 ± 0.18102 with P value less than 0.001. Copper/zinc ratio of patients was 1.8433 ± 0.45360, whereas the ratio for the controls was 1.0980 ± 0.17993, with P value less than 0.001. Our study showed that there were no significant differences in serum level of iron, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and calcium, as well as copper between ASD and control groups. Conclusion The study showed a highly significant decrease in serum zinc between ASD and control groups. There was a highly significant difference between zinc/copper ratio and copper/zinc ratio. There was a highly significant difference regarding zinc/copper ratio between ASD and control groups. There was no significant difference in serum level of copper, iron, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and calcium between ASD and control.

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