The plasma zinc/serum copper ratio as a biomarker in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Abstract

The frequency of zinc deficiency, copper toxicity and low zinc/copper in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may indicate decrement in metallothionein system functioning. A retrospective review of plasma zinc, serum copper and zinc/copper was performed on data from 230 children with autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-NOS and Asperger's syndrome. The entire cohort's mean zinc level was 77.2 microg dl(-1), mean copper level was 131.5 microg dl(-1), and mean Zn/Cu was 0.608, which was below the 0.7 cut-off of the lowest 2.5% of healthy children. The plasma zinc/serum copper ratio may be a biomarker of heavy metal, particularly mercury, toxicity in children with ASDs.

• Authors: Scott Faber, Gregory M Zinn, John C Kern 2nd, H M Skip Kingston
• Journal: Biomarkers : biochemical indicators of exposure, response, and susceptibility to chemicals (Biomarkers) Vol. 14 Issue 3 Pg. 171-80 (May 2009) ISSN: 1366-5804 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19280374 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Copper
• Zinc

Topics

• Asperger Syndrome (blood)
• Autistic Disorder (blood)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Child
• Cohort Studies
• Copper (blood)
• Humans
• Retrospective Studies
• Zinc (blood)