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Hair Trace Elements and Mineral Content in Moroccan Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Case–Control Study

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Abstract

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) around the world continues to increase while the pathophysiology remains insufficiently elucidated. Genetics, environment, and epigenetic changes are often implicated. Abnormal level in trace elements and minerals is among environmental factors assumed to be involved. The purpose of this article is to assess hair concentrations of toxic and essential elements in children with ASD and children with neurotypical development in the city of Marrakech. Two hundred and twenty-seven children (107 with ASD and 120 controls) aged 3 to 14 years old were recruited. The results of analysis by ICP-MS showed a significant decrease in hair levels of copper, zinc, iron, and selenium (25%, 13%, 17%, 11%) of children with ASD. The most significantly reduced concentrations in children with ASD are that of manganese by 34%. Hair aluminum level was significantly elevated by 29% in ASD compared to controls. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that copper, selenium, and iron content in hair were significantly inversely associated with ASD, similarly, hair aluminum content was significantly associated with ASD. Adjusted model for demographic parameters increased the predictive ability of the model, father’s age was a significant predictor. In addition, ASD and gender were significant predictors of hair levels of aluminum, selenium, and manganese.

These results support the hypothesis of the disparity of trace elements and minerals levels in children with ASD and highlight the potential interest of micronutrient supplementation in the eventual improvement of ASD symptoms. Future research should explore the pathophysiology of these micronutrient deficiencies.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due the personal nature of the data collected or analyzed and so as not to compromise the privacy of individuals but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Center for the Dosage of Mineral Elements of the University of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Nantes. The authors would like to thank all the work teams of this center especially Mr YANNICK François. The authors also want to acknowledge all the work team of the National Center Mohammed VI for the disabled in Marrakesh and all the participants in this work and their parents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences - Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd Moulay Abdellah BP, 2390-40001, Marrakech, Morocco

    Mariam Ouisselsat, Sana Maidoumi, Amal Elmaouaki, Nadra Lekouch & Azeddine Sedki

  2. Mineral Element Dosing Centre, UFR of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, University of Nantes, 9, rue Bias, 44035 - 44000, Nantes Cedex 1, France

    Alain Pineau

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  1. Mariam Ouisselsat
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection were performed by Ouisselsat Mariam, Maidoumi Sanaa, and Elmaouaki Amal; analysis was performed by Ouisselsat Mariam under the direction of Pineau Alain and Sedki Azeddine. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Ouisselsat Mariam and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mariam Ouisselsat.

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This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Mohamed VI University Hospital in Marrakech.

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Freely given informed consent was obtained from all parents or legal guardians of children included in the study.

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Ouisselsat, M., Maidoumi, S., Elmaouaki, A. et al. Hair Trace Elements and Mineral Content in Moroccan Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Case–Control Study. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 2701–2710 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03365-6

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