Trace element dysregulation and detoxification dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder : a urinary biomarker study with element ratio analysis

Osredkar, Joško (avtor), Godnov, Uroš (avtor), Jekovec-Vrhovšek, Maja (avtor), Osredkar, Damjan (avtor), Avguštin, Gorazd (avtor), France Štiglic, Alenka (avtor), Fabjan, Teja (avtor), Kumer, Kristina (avtor)

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) arises from complex gene–environment interactions. While trace element abnormalities have been studied, associations with autism severity remain inconsistent. Ratios indicating detoxification balance, rather than single toxic elements, may better reflect severity. Objective: To examine the relationships between urinary trace element levels, detoxification-related element ratios, and autism severity measured by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Methods: In a crosssectional study of 168 participants (103 ASD, 65 controls), thirty urinary trace elements were quantified by ICP-MS. ASD patients were stratified by CARS into subthreshold ASD (n = 29), mild–moderate ASD (n = 36), and severe ASD (n = 38). Analyses included Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, and Spearman correlation tests, focusing on Li/Pb, Cu/Pb, and Cr/Pb ratios. Results: Individual elements showed weak associations with CARS; lead correlated positively (ρ = 0.209, p = 0.035) and lithium inversely (ρ = −0.194, p = 0.051). In contrast, element ratios showed stronger links: Li/Pb (ρ = −0.349, p = 0.0003), Cu/Pb (ρ = −0.320, p = 0.0011), and Cr/Pb (ρ = −0.209, p = 0.035). Severe ASD exhibited modest 90th-percentile elevations for toxic elements but high heterogeneity. Conclusions: Single-element levels showed limited associations with ASD severity. Element ratios, particularly Li/Pb, showed stronger statistical associations than individual elements in this cross-sectional dataset; however, these findings should be interpreted as candidate correlates rather than causal or clinically validated biomarkers.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: autism spectrum disorder, trace elements, lead, llithium, detoxification, biomarkers, CARS, element ratios, environmental toxins, metallothionein
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FFA - Fakulteta za farmacijo ; FMF - Fakulteta za matematiko in fiziko ; MF - Medicinska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 23 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 16, iss. 11, art. 5332
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182880
• UDK: 615.874.24:616.896
• ISSN pri članku: 2076-3417
• DOI: 10.3390/app16115332
• COBISS.SI-ID: 279467011
• Datum objave v RUL: 27.05.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Applied sciences
• Skrajšan naslov: Appl. sci.
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 2076-3417
• COBISS.SI-ID: 522979353

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: elementi v sledovih, svinec, litij, biomarkerji, CARS, razmerja elementov, okoljski toksini, metalotionein, motnje avtističnega spektra, razstrupljanje

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P3-0124
• Naslov: Metabolni in prirojeni dejavniki reproduktivnega zdravja, porod III

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: J3-1756
• Naslov: Okoljski in genetski dejavniki pri motnjah avtističnega spektra