关键词:

孤独症, γ-氨基丁酸, 谷氨酸, 矿物质, 核心症状

Abstract:

Objective　To explore the relation of serum minerals, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutamic acid (Glu) with the core symptoms of autistic children. Methods　A total of 102 children with autism admitted to Xi'an Ninth Hospital from January 2021 to July 2023 were selected as an observation group, including 68 boys and 34 girls who were (7.23±2.15) years old. One hundred and two healthy children who underwent physical examination in Xi'an Ninth Hospital during the same period were selected as a control group, including 68 boys and 34 girls who were (7.40±2.08) years old. The serum levels of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in the two groups were measured by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The levels of GABA and Glu were determined by the high performance liquid chromatography. The Child Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Autism Behavior Scale (ABC) were used to evaluate the illness and symptoms of the observation group; the children were divided into a mild to moderate group and a severe group according to the CARS score; the levels of Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, GABA, and Glu were compared between the two groups. t and χ² tests were used for the statistical analysis. The relationship between the above indicators and scores of ABC and CARS was analyzed by the Pearson partial correlation analysis. Results　The levels of Mg, Cu, and Zn in the observation group were lower than those in the control group [(18.00±1.00) mg/L vs. (19.96±1.33) mg/L, (1 095.85±10.82) μg/L vs. (1 152.47±13.62) μg/L, and (752.38±12.63) μg/L vs. (770.15±14.63) μg/L; t=11.896, 32.874, and 9.286; all P<0.05], and the levels of GABA and Glu were higher [(108.69±26.27) pmol/L vs. (70.15±18.63) pmol/L and (985.63±158.20) pmol/L vs. (653.77±102.36) pmol/L; t=12.055 and 17.787; both P<0.05]. The levels of Mg, Cu, and Zn in the severe group were lower than those in the mild to moderate group [(15.77±1.02) mg/L vs. (19.56±1.18) mg/L, (1 056.55±8.26) μg/L vs. (1 123.36±11.65) μg/L, and (738.42±8.82) μg/L vs. (762.15±9.45) μg/L; t=16.862, 31.947, and 12.825; all P<0.05], and the levels of GABA and Glu were higher [(120.75±25.69) pmol/L vs. (100.25±23.14) pmol/L and (1 021.92±185.36) pmol/L vs. (960.23±118.36) pmol/L; t=4.207 and 2.051; both P<0.05]. Mg, Cu, and Zn were negatively correlated with autism conditions (r=-0.896, -0.958, and -0.807; all P<0.05). GABA and Glu were positively correlated with autism conditions (r=0.381 and 0.426; both P<0.05). The Mg level was negatively correlated with the score of interaction and total score (r=-0.280 and -0.323; both P<0.05). The Zn level was negatively correlated with the scores of interaction and physical activity and total score (r=-0.275, -0.213, and -0.223; all P<0.05). The GABA level was positively correlated with the scores of sensation and interaction and total score (r=0.495, 0.416, and 0.402; all P<0.05). The Glu level was positively correlated with the scores of communication and language and total score (r=0.382, 0.420, and 0.463; all P<0.05). Conclusions　The levels of Mg, Cu, Zn, and other minerals in children with autism are low, while the levels of GABA and Glu are high. The mineral contents and levels of GABA and Glu are associated with the core symptoms of the disease. Clinical monitoring of the mineral nutrition and levels of GABA and Glu in children with autism should be focused.

Key words:

Autism, Gamma-aminobutyric acid, Glutamic acid, Minerals, Core symptoms