Red-Cell Trace Minerals in Children with Autism

Abnormalities in mineral-dependent antioxidant enzymes in children with autism raise interest in the determination of trace mineral status in this population. A cross sectional investigation of red cell mineral levels was carried out among 20 children with autism and 15 controls. Children with autism demonstrated significantly lower red cell selenium (p<0.0006) and higher molybdenum (p<0.01) than the controls. There was a trend toward lower red cell zinc and higher cobalt and vanadium, among the children with autism. There were no differences in red cell levels of chromium, copper, manganese, or magnesium. These findings confirm an earlier report of low red cell selenium in autism and support a role for decreased trace mineral status in oxidative stress in autism through alteration of selenium-dependent antioxidant enzymes and increased lipid peroxidation.