Disturbance of trace element and gut microbiota profiles as indicators of autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study of Chinese children

Qixiao Zhai; Shi Cen; Jinchi Jiang; Jianxin Zhao; Hao Zhang; Wei Chen

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2019.01.060

Disturbance of trace element and gut microbiota profiles as indicators of autism spectrum disorder: A pilot study of Chinese children

Environ Res. 2019 Apr:171:501-509. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.01.060. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Authors

Qixiao Zhai¹, Shi Cen², Jinchi Jiang², Jianxin Zhao³, Hao Zhang⁴, Wei Chen⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China; International Joint Research Laboratory for Probiotics at Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PRChina.
² State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China; (Yangzhou) Institute of Food Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Yangzhou 225004, PR China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China; (Yangzhou) Institute of Food Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Yangzhou 225004, PR China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China; School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China; National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, PR China; Beijing Innovation Centre of Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), Beijing 100048, PR China. Electronic address: chenwei66@jiangnan.edu.cn.

PMID: 30743242
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.01.060

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental disorder that is characterized by impairments of reciprocal social interaction and restricted stereotyped repetitive behavior. The goal of the present study was to investigate the trace element and gut microbiota profiles of Chinese autistic children and screen out potential metallic or microbial indicators of the disease. One hundred and thirty-six children (78 with ASD and 58 healthy controls) aged from 3 to 7 years were enrolled. The levels of lead, cadmium, arsenic, copper, zinc, iron, mercury, calcium and magnesium in hair samples from the children were analyzed. Fecal samples were also collected and the children's gut microbiota profiles were characterized by 16s rRNA sequencing. Concentrations of lead, arsenic, copper, zinc, mercury, calcium and magnesium were significantly higher in the ASD group than in the control group. Linear discriminant analysis effect size analysis indicated that the relative abundance of nine genera was increased in the autistic children. Redundancy analysis showed that arsenic and mercury were significantly associated with Parabacteroides and Oscillospira in the gut. A random forest model was trained with high accuracy (84.00%) and the metallic and microbial biomarkers of ASD were established. Our results indicate significant alterations in the trace element and gut microbiota profiles of Chinese children with ASD and reveal the potential pathogenesis of this disease in terms of metal metabolism and gut microecology.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Gut microbiota; Heavy metal; Redundancy analyzes; Trace elements.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder / epidemiology*
Child
Child, Preschool
China
Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
Humans
Pilot Projects
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Trace Elements / metabolism*

Substances

RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Trace Elements