The plasma zinc/serum copper ratio as a biomarker in children with autism spectrum disorders.
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.
Faber
Scott
S
The Children's Institute, 1405 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, USA. sfa@the-institute.org
Zinn
Gregory M
GM
Kern
John C
JC
Kingston
H M Skip
HM
D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc