The objective of the study was to investigate the association between
catatonia in
autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the levels of hair and serum
trace elements and minerals in children with ASD. The levels of hair and serum
trace elements and minerals of boys suffering from ASD with (n = 30) and without (n = 30)
catatonia, as well as 30 age- and sex-matched neurotypical controls were assessed using ICP-MS. Hair
calcium (Ca) and
selenium (Se) levels were lower in ASD patients as compared to the controls. Hair
mercury (Hg) levels in ASD patients were more than 3-fold and 2-fold higher as compared to the controls and children with
catatonia in ASD. Hair
iodine (I) and
manganese (Mn) were the lowest and the highest in ASD + Catatonia, respectively. Serum
aluminium (Al) and
cadmium (Cd) levels in healthy controls were significantly higher in comparison to the patients of both groups. Serum
chromium (Cr),
copper (Cu) levels were significantly increased in patients with ASD and
catatonia, whereas
vanadium (V) levels were elevated in patients both with and without
catatonia. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that hair Hg and serum Al and Cd levels were negatively associated with
catatonia in ASD in crude and adjusted models. Although the etiology of
catatonia in ASD is unclear, the obtained data demonstrate that catatonic symptoms in ASD may be at least partially mediated by altered
trace element levels. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of
trace elements in the potential signaling mechanisms of
catatonia.