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Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Plasma Elements in Autistic Children from India

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Abstract

Trace elements are essential for the human body’s various physiological processes but if they are present in higher concentration, these elements turn to be toxic and cause adverse effect on physiological processes. Similarly, deficiency of these essential elements also affects physiological processes and leads to abnormal metabolic activities. There is a lot of interest in recent years to know the mystery behind the involvement of trace elements in the metabolic activities of autistic children suspecting that it may be a risk factor in the aetiology of autism. The present study aims to analyse the plasma trace elements in autistic children using the total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) technique. Plasma samples from 70 autistic children (mean age: 11.5 ± 3.1) were analysed with 70 age- and sex-matched healthy children as controls (mean age: 12 ± 2.5). TXRF analysis revealed the higher concentration of copper (1227.8 ± 17.8), chromium (7.1 ± 2.5), bromine (2695.1 ± 24) and arsenic (126.3 ± 10) and lower concentration of potassium (440.1 ± 25), iron (1039.6 ± 28), zinc (635.7 ± 21), selenium (52.3 ± 8.5), rubidium (1528.9 ± 28) and molybdenum (162,800.8 ± 14) elements in the plasma of autistic children in comparison to healthy controls. Findings of the first study from India suggest these altered concentrations in elements in autistic children over normal healthy children affect the physiological processes and metabolism. Further studies are needed to clarify the association between the altered element concentration and physiology of autism in the North Karnataka population in India.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all autistic children and their parents/guardians for agreeing to participate in the study. We also thank all the special schools for participating in our study. We sincerely thank Director, University Science Instrumentation Centre (USIC), Karnatak University Dharwad, for providing total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) instrument facility. We also thank Ms Renuka Niralagi, DST PURSE phase-II programme, Karnataka University Dharwad, for her help during sample analysis. We thank Karnataka Institute for DNA Research (KIDNAR), Dharwad and Shri B.M Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapura, for their constant support throughout the research.

Funding

This study was supported by Grant-in-Aid for research from the Department of Higher Education, Govt. of Karnataka, India (Grant No: Department of Higher Education, ED 15 UKV 2018, Bangalore, date:12–13-2018).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Vascular Physiology and Medicine, Department of Physiology, Shri B.M Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, BLDE (Deemed To Be University), Vijayapura, 586101, India

    Rajat Hegde & Kusal K. Das

  2. Karnataka Institute for DNA Research (KIDNAR), Dharwad, 580003, India

    Rajat Hegde, Smita Hegde, Suyamindra S. Kulkarni & Pramod B. Gai

  3. Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, Shri B.M Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, BLDE (Deemed To Be University), Vijayapura, 586101, India

    Smita Hegde & Sujayendra Kulkarni

  4. Division of Human Genetics (Central Research Lab), S. Nijaliangappa Medical College, HSK Hospital and Research Center, Bagalkot, 587102, India

    Sujayendra Kulkarni

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Dharwad, 580008, India

    Aditya Pandurangi

  6. Department of Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad, 580003, India

    Mahadevappa Y. Kariduraganavar

  7. Karnatak University Dharwad, Dharwad, 580003, India

    Pramod B. Gai

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  1. Rajat Hegde
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  2. Smita Hegde
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Correspondence to Pramod B. Gai.

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Statement of Ethics

Ethical approval for the study was taken from the Institutional Ethical Committee of Shri B.M Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapura (Ref No: BLDE (DU) IEC/337–2018-19). Informed consent was obtained from parents/guardians before the collection of blood samples.

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Hegde, R., Hegde, S., Kulkarni, S. et al. Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Plasma Elements in Autistic Children from India. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 644–654 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03199-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03199-2

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