July 2009 The Severity of Autism Is Associated with Toxic Metal Body Burden (...)

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" This study demonstrates a significant positive association between the severity

of autism and the relative body burden of toxic metals "

--The Severity of Autism Is Associated with Toxic Metal Body Burden and Red

Blood Cell Glutathione Levels

Journal of Toxicology

Volume 2009 (2009), Article ID 532640, 7 pages

doi:10.1155/2009/532640

Research Article

J. B. ,1 M. Baral,2 E. Geis,3 J. ,1 J. Ingram,3 A. Hensley,3 I.

Zappia,3 S. Newmark,4 E. Gehn,3 R. A. Rubin,5 K. ,3 J. Bradstreet,2,6

and J. M. El-Dahr7

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship of children's autism symptoms with

their toxic metal body burden and red blood cell (RBC) glutathione levels. In

children ages 3-8 years, the severity of autism was assessed using four tools:

ADOS, PDD-BI, ATEC, and SAS. Toxic metal body burden was assessed by measuring

urinary excretion of toxic metals, both before and after oral dimercaptosuccinic

acid (DMSA). Multiple positive correlations were found between the severity of

autism and the urinary excretion of toxic metals. Variations in the severity of

autism measurements could be explained, in part, by regression analyses of

urinary excretion of toxic metals before and after DMSA and the level of RBC

glutathione (adjusted R2 of 0.22-0.45, P<.005 in all cases). This study

demonstrates a significant positive association between the severity of autism

and the relative body burden of toxic metals.

(Full article: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jt/2009/532640.html )