Trace Elements in Medicine (Moscow)
2017, 18(4): 41−48
ORIGINAL PAPER

THE RELATIONSHIP OF CLINICAL PARAMETERS AND ELEMENTAL STATUS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT

A.A. Skalnaya 1, A.B. Berdalin 1, B.H. Kabki 2, I.V. Zhegalova 3

1 Lomonosov Moscow State University, 27-1 Lomonosovsky Prospekt, Moscow, 117192, Russia
2 King Khaled General Hospital, Al Baladia 2528, Hafer AL Baten, 39921, KSA
3 People’s Friendship University of Russian, Miklukho-Maklaya str. 6, Moscow, 117198, Russia

DOI: 10.19112/2413-6174-2017-18-4-41-48 

ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between clinical parameters and the element status of children with autism before and after its correction. The following indicators were assessed: speech disorders, frequent acute respiratory infections (ARI), lack of contact with others and the content of chemical elements in the hair of patients. Before the correction of the elemental status of children with autism, there was elevated content of silicon with frequent catarrhal diseases. The lack of positive dynamics in the incidence of ARI among children aged 5-11 was characterized by elevated levels of aluminum, nickel and iron. Elevated nickel content is detected in cases of the lack of improvement in the speech as a whole, while an increase in the level of iron was associated with its improvement in the younger age group (2-4 years). Low lithium level in the hair was observed in older patients with decrease in the frequency of ARI and improvement of contact with others. Also in the general sample of patients and in the older age group, the level of selenium was significantly improved after correction of patients’ element status. Further work is required in this direction. Taking into account the multifactority of the autism spectrum disorder, estimation of the elements content not only in the hair but also in the blood, supplemented with amino acid status will get a little better understanding of the possible mechanisms of the identified relationships. Further work is required in this direction. Taking into account the multifactority of the autism spectrum disorder, estimation of the elements content not only in the hair but also in the blood, supplemented with amino acid status will get a little better understanding of the possible mechanisms of the identified relationships.

KEYWORDS: autism, symptoms, element status