Autistic children's abnormal metabolic profil...( Chronic biochemical imbalance is often ...),Health

Chronic biochemical imbalance is often a primary factor in the development of many complex diseases but a possible metabolic basis for autism has not been well explored. Now Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute researchers report for the first time that children with autism have a severely abnormal metabolic profile indicating increased vulnerability to oxidative stress. The scientists also identified a significant increase in the frequency of several genetic polymorphisms that they believe may increase the risk of autism in specific combinations yet to be determined.

Dr. S. Jill James, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, presented the study Saturday, April 2, at the American Society for Nutritional Sciences scientific sessions at Experimental Biology 2005 in San Diego.

Autism is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by impairment in social interactions, limited language acquisition, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. Usually diagnosed before the age of three, the disorder appears to have increased tenfold over the last 15 years, now affecting more than 30 of every 10,000 children in the United States. Although both genetic and environmental factors are believed to contribute to the development of autism, no firm causal evidence exists. And with no available physiological or biochemical markers, diagnosis currently is made entirely on a behavioral basis.

Dr. James and colleagues measured plasma levels of the major intracellular antioxidant glutathione and its metabolic precursors in 95 autistic children and 75 children without autism. Glutathione levels (and also the ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione or redox ratio) were significantly decreased in the autistic children, indicating presence of a significant level of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when the antioxidant system fails to counteract the generation or exposure to free radicals.
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Contact: Sarah Goodwin
ebpress@bellsouth.net
770-270-0989
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
2-Apr-2005

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