Trace Elements in Medicine (Moscow)
2021, 22(4): 37-42
ORIGINAL PAPERS

ANALYSIS OF SERUM LEVELS OF MANGANESE AND OTHER CHEMICAL ELEMENTS IN CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) AND TICS

A.L. Mazaletskaya¹, A.A. Skalny^1,2, Yu.E. Uvarova¹, K.A. Aleksandrova¹, A.A. Tinkov^1,2

¹ P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University
² Peoples` Friendship University of Russia

DOI: 10.19112/2413-6174-2021-22-4-37-42 

ABSTRACT. The objective of the present study is comparative analysis of serum concentrations of essential macro- and trace elements in children with ADHD and tics for estimation of common characteristics that could contribute to ADHD and tic comorbidity. A total of 113 children including 50 patients with ADHD, 25 sbjects with tics, and 38 healthy controls were enrolled in the current study. Evaluation of serum trace element and mineral levels was performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The obtained data demonstrate that serum calcium and magnesium levels in ADHD cases was 7% (p < 0,001) and 4% (p = 0,028) lower as compared to the respective control values. Patients with tics were characterized by elevated serum V levels by 27% (p = 0,070) in comparison to the controls. The only common characteristic for cases with both ADHD and tics was a significant increase in serum manganese concentration, exceeding the control values by 29% (p = 0,001) and 22% (p = 0,043), respectively. Therefore, the obtained data allow to propose that altered manganese metabolism with the increase in its systemic levels may at least partially contribute to the link between ADHD and tic disorder. At the same time, verification of the hypothesis requires more detailed studies including investigation of manganese-dependent pathogenetic pathways, as well as follow-up studies addressing the association between manganese exposure and ADHD and tic development in children.

KEYWORDS: manganese; magnesium; comorbidity; metals; neurodevelopment.