Hair mineralograms in children with autism spectrum disorders

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BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorders are often accompanied by comorbid somatic conditions, which necessitates the development of reliable methods of predictive diagnostics. The analysis of hair elemental composition, which reflects long-term metabolic status, can identify individual micronutrient imbalances and enable the development of personalized correction plans to prevent related health disorders.

AIM: This work aimed to evaluate the potential of hair mineralograms as a predictive biomarker for the risk of comorbid somatic disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders, thereby facilitating the development of personalized correction plans.

METHODS: In 36 children diagnosed with conditions classified as “Pervasive developmental disorders” (group 1) and 64 children of the control group (group 2) living in Magadan, the concentrations of 25 macro- and microelements in hair were determined using spectrometric methods. We performed a step-by-step analysis of the absolute bioelement content, an intergroup comparison of deviation frequencies from reference values, a correlation analysis, and constructed an elemental imbalance formula for group 1.

RESULTS: In group 1, potassium and cobalt levels were statistically significantly higher than in group 2, whereas the concentrations of iron, selenium, manganese, chromium, silicon, and arsenic were lower (p < 0.05). The frequency analysis of deviations revealed manganese deficiency (44% in group 1 and 23% in group 2), zinc deficiency (25% and 50% in group 1 and group 2, respectively), phosphorus deficiency (86% and 42% in group 1 and group 2, respectively), and sodium deficiency (39% and 17% in group 1 and group 2, respectively). Silicon deficiency was identified for the first time in group 1 (42%), which is not typical for Magadan residents in general. In the center of the correlation cluster of group 1 lies manganese, forming strong statistically significant correlations with iron and zinc (r > 0.7; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The elemental imbalance formula for autism spectrum disorders incorporates an excess of vanadium and a deficiency of sodium, silicon, manganese, and phosphorus. This pattern is identified against the characteristic “northern” deficiency of calcium, magnesium, cobalt, and iodine in these children. Iron and selenium deficiency in the hair of children with autism spectrum disorders was not detected, which may indicate sufficient intake but impaired absorption in a leaky gut, preventing adequate metabolism. The findings provide insight into the fundamental organization of the bioelemental system in autism spectrum disorders, suggesting possible variations depending on regional biogeochemistry, sex, age, and diagnosis characteristics.

About the authors

Elena A. Lugovaya

Research Center "Arctic" Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: elena_plant@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6583-4175
SPIN-code: 5825-7122

Cand. Sci. (Biology), Associate Professor

Russian Federation, Magadan

Anatoly L. Gorbachev

Research Center "Arctic" Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: gor000@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2432-3408
SPIN-code: 7050-3412

Dr. Sci. (Biology)

Russian Federation, Magadan

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