TY - JOUR
T1 - A prospective study of transsulfuration biomarkers in autistic disorders
AU - Geier, David A.
AU - Kern, Janet K.
AU - Garver, Carolyn R.
AU - Adams, James
AU - Audhya, Tapan
AU - Geier, Mark R.
PY - 2009/2
Y1 - 2009/2
N2 - The goal of this study was to evaluate transsulfuration metabolites in participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Transsulfuration metabolites, including: plasma reduced glutathione (GSH), plasma oxidized glutathione (GSSG), plasma cysteine, plasma taurine, plasma sulfate, and plasma free sulfate among participants diagnosed with ASDs (n = 38) in comparison to age-matched neurotypical controls were prospectively evaluated. Testing was conducted using Vitamin Diagnostics, Inc. (CLIA-approved). Participants diagnosed with ASDs had significantly (P < 0.001) decreased plasma reduced GSH, plasma cysteine, plasma taurine, plasma sulfate, and plasma free sulfate relative to controls. By contrast, participants diagnosed with ASDs had significantly (P < 0.001) increased plasma GSSG relative to controls. The present observations are compatible with increased oxidative stress and a decreased detoxification capacity, particularly of mercury, in patients diagnosed with ASDs. Patients diagnosed with ASDs should be routinely tested to evaluate transsulfuration metabolites, and potential treatment protocols should be evaluated to potentially correct the transsulfuration abnormalities observed.
AB - The goal of this study was to evaluate transsulfuration metabolites in participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Transsulfuration metabolites, including: plasma reduced glutathione (GSH), plasma oxidized glutathione (GSSG), plasma cysteine, plasma taurine, plasma sulfate, and plasma free sulfate among participants diagnosed with ASDs (n = 38) in comparison to age-matched neurotypical controls were prospectively evaluated. Testing was conducted using Vitamin Diagnostics, Inc. (CLIA-approved). Participants diagnosed with ASDs had significantly (P < 0.001) decreased plasma reduced GSH, plasma cysteine, plasma taurine, plasma sulfate, and plasma free sulfate relative to controls. By contrast, participants diagnosed with ASDs had significantly (P < 0.001) increased plasma GSSG relative to controls. The present observations are compatible with increased oxidative stress and a decreased detoxification capacity, particularly of mercury, in patients diagnosed with ASDs. Patients diagnosed with ASDs should be routinely tested to evaluate transsulfuration metabolites, and potential treatment protocols should be evaluated to potentially correct the transsulfuration abnormalities observed.
KW - Heavy metal
KW - Metabolic endophenotype
KW - Sulfation
KW - Sulfur
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=58849106335&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=58849106335&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11064-008-9782-x
DO - 10.1007/s11064-008-9782-x
M3 - Article
C2 - 18612812
AN - SCOPUS:58849106335
VL - 34
SP - 386
EP - 393
JO - Neurochemical Research
JF - Neurochemical Research
SN - 0364-3190
IS - 2
ER -