title: Urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and whole blood serotonin and tryptophan in autistic and normal subjects.
abstract: Urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) excretion in two consecutive collection periods (5:00 PM-11:00 PM and 11:00 PM-8:00 AM) and whole blood serotonin (5-HT) and tryptophan (TRP) were measured in groups of unmedicated autistics (n = 16), medicated autistics (n = 20), and normal controls (n = 27). Whole blood 5-HT values were significantly higher in unmedicated autistics compared to normal controls. No significant differences were found in 5-HIAA excretion (microgram/mg creatinine, mean +/- SD) between unmedicated autistics (4.07 +/- 1.52) and normal controls (3.50 +/- 1.07), or between medicated (5.35 +/- 2.93) and drug-free autistic individuals. No correlations were found between 5-HT values and urinary 5-HIAA excretion. Urinary 5-HIAA (microgram/mg creatinine, mean +/- SD) was significantly greater in hyperserotonemic autistic subjects (4.88 +/- 0.87) compared to normal controls (3.50 +/- 1.07, total collection period; p = 0.002). The relevance of these findings to the possibility that increased gut production of 5-HT might cause the elevated whole blood 5-HT levels seen in autism is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan