Zinc deficiency in autistic children

     Studies have revealed through hair analysis that children with autism spectrum disorders have severe zinc deficiencies, which may be associated with the accumulation of heavy metals in them. To assess the nutritional status of zinc, the use of serum zinc is subject to limitations, as it is influenced by factors other than dietary zinc intake. The hair mineralogram detects excess heavy metals such as mercury and deficiencies of metals such as zinc. Excessive urinary excretion of porphyrin is a biomarker of mercury toxicity.

    A fatty acid profile with a high LA/DGLA ratio is a biomarker that may indicate functional zinc deficiency.

Linolenic acid (=LA) and dihomogamma-linolenic acid (=DGLA)

    Zinc is a necessary cofactor for more than 200 enzymatic reactions. It plays a role in immune function (involved in IgG antibody production, T lymphocyte development and activation supporting the adaptive immune response), in the regulation of metallothionein synthesis, in the structure of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1), and in the stabilization of protein domains that interact with DNA. In addition, zinc deficiency affects the diversity of the intestinal microbiota.

    The relationship between the prevalence of zinc deficiency and concentrations of toxic metals such as mercury in ASD shows that zinc exerts a protective action against toxic metals.

    There are other proposed molecular mechanisms, elucidating how reduced zinc availability, through modulation of SHANK3, BNDF and IL-6 signaling, is causing ASD at the molecular level. Some proposed mechanisms are in line with processes identified through genetic mutations in ASD, and several key candidate genes for ASD, which encode zinc-binding protein.

Reference

YASUDA H., YOSHIDA K., YASUDA Y., TSUTSUI T. Infantile zinc deficiency: association with autism spectrum disorders. Scientific Reports, vol.1, n. 129, nov. 2011.

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