Toxic Metals and Essential Elements in Hair and Severity of Symptoms among Children with Autism

April 3, 2012

Toxic Metals and Essential Elements in Hair and Severity of

Symptoms among Children with AutismMaedica

A Journal of Clinical Medicine, Volume 7 No.1 2012

The objective of this study was to assess the levels of ten toxic metals

and essential elements in hair samples of children with autism, and to

correlate the level of these elements with the severity of autism.

Method: The participants were 44 children, age 3 to 9 years, with

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) according to Diagnostic and Statistical

Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition, (DSM-IV). The severity of

autistic symptomatology was measured by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale

(CARS). Hair analysis was performed to evaluate the long term metal

exposure and mineral level.

Results: By comparing hair concentration of autistic vs nonautistic

children, elevated hair concentrations were noted for aluminum, arsenic,

cadmium, mercury, antimony, nickel, lead, and vanadium. Hair levels of

calcium, iron, iodine, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, and

selenium were considered deficient. There was a significant positive

correlation between lead & verbal communication (p = 0.020) and

general impression (p = 0.008). In addition, there was a significant

negative correlation between zinc & fear and nervousness (p =

0.022).

Conclusion: Our data supports the historic evidence that heavy metals

play a role in the development of ASD. In combination with an inadequate

nutritional status the toxic effect of metals increase along with the

severity of symptoms.

Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

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