pdf: A macroepigenetic approach to identify factors responsible for the autism epidemic in the United States

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A macroepigenetic approach to identify factors responsible for the

autism epidemic in the United States

<http://www.clinicalepigeneticsjournal.com/content/4/1/6/abstract>

Dufault, Walter J Lukiw, Raquel Crider, Roseanne Schnoll,

Wallinga and Deth

Clinical Epigenetics 2012, 4:6

Published: 10 April 2012

The number of children ages 6 to 21 in the United States receiving

special education services under the autism disability category

increased 91 % between 2005 to 2010 while the number of children

receiving special education services overall declined by 5 %. The demand

for special education services continues to rise in disability

categories associated with pervasive developmental disorders.

Neurodevelopment can be adversely impacted when gene expression is

altered by dietary transcription factors, such as zinc insufficiency or

deficiency, or by exposure to toxic substances found in our environment,

such as mercury or organophosphate pesticides. Gene expression patterns

differ geographically between populations and within populations. Gene

variants of paraoxonase-1 are associated with autism in North America,

but not in Italy, indicating regional specificity in gene-environment

interactions. In the current review, we utilize a novel macroepigenetic

approach to compare variations in diet and toxic substance exposure

between these two geographical populations to determine the likely

factors responsible for the autism epidemic in the United States.

synopsis:

April 11, 2012 by Common Dreams <http://www.commondreams.org>

Study: Autism Linked to Industrial Food, Environment

Report cites prevalence of high-fructose corn syrup in US diet as

possible contributor to alarming epidemic

- Common Dreams staff

A new study by Clinical Epigenetics,

<http://www.clinicalepigeneticsjournal.com/content/4/1/6/abstract>a

peer-reviewed journal that focuses largely on diseases, has found that

the rise in autism in the United States could be linked to the

industrial food system, specifically the prevalence of high-fructose

corn syrup (HFCS) in the American diet. The study, published yesterday

online, explores how mineral deficiencies could impact how the human

body rids itself of common toxic chemicals like mercury and pesticides.

The report comes just after a different report, from the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, documented

<http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/03/29-8> a startling rise in

autism in the United States....

more <http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/04/11-6>