Abstract
Introduction. A unifying model in autism involving zinc-deficiency, copper overload and higher early childhood exposure to neurotoxicants (mercury or lead) has been proposed. To test the hypothesis that lower zinc and zinc/copper ratio in cord blood levels and/or higher mercury prenatal exposure may be associated with failing in the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), a mother-child prospective cohort from Trieste, Italy was evaluated at child’s age 18 months. Methods. This cohort included 900 mothers recluted at 20 months of pregnancy at the only chidren’s hospital. Mercury, zinc, copper and other metals were measured in maternal hair and blood during pregnancy and in umbilical cord blood and breast milk. Maternal intelligence was tested by using Raven’s Progressive Matrices. Lifestyle, dietary and socioeconomic factors were assessed by questionnaires during pregnancy. Preterm births and babies with congenital malformations or severe perinatal problems were excluded. 18 months after delivery the M-CHAT was performed by a psychologist. Cut-off points indicating failure in the M-CHAT were defined according to Robins et al 2001. Metals levels (ng/g) were log2 transformed. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between metal level and M-CHAT failure. Results. Respondents were 460/900. Overall prevalence of M-CHAT failure was 21.7% (Males =25%). After adjusting for child’s gender, mother’s Raven test and home size (a valid predictor of socioeconomic status in Italy), lower cord blood zinc level (p<0.025) and Zn/Cu ratio (p<0.013) were associated with M-CHAT failure. By contrast, mercury level in mother’s blood was directly associated with M-CHAT failure in females (p<0.016) but not in males (0.877). Conclusions. In this Italian mother-child cohort prenatal zinc, zinc/copper balance and mercury contamination play a role as explanatory variables in positive testing at M-CHAT screening.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
