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Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is one of the world's most widely used food additives. Its toxic effects have been shown in numerous animal studies, however in most of them, the method of administration and the doses were not similar to human MSG intake. In this paper we review animal and human studies in which MSG effects on central nervous system, adipose tissue and liver, reproductive organs and other systems have been shown and we discuss their implications for human MSG intake.

ObjectiveOxytocin (OT) has been implicated to play an important role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) etiology. We aimed to find out the differences in plasma OT levels between children with autism and healthy children, the associations of OT levels with particular autism symptoms and the associations of particular parental autistic traits with their ASD children OT levels.MethodsWe included 19 boys with autism and 44 healthy age-matched boys. OT levels were analyzed by ELISA method. Children with autism were scored by Childhood Autism Rating Scale and Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI), adjusted research version. Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Systemizing Quotient (SQ) and Empathizing Quotient were completed by parents of children with autism.ResultsChildren with autism had significantly lower plasma OT levels than controls. OT levels positively correlated with ADI Reciprocal Interaction and Communication scores. AQ and SQ of fathers positively correlated with children plasma OT level.ConclusionOur results support the hypothesis of OT deficiency in autism. The "paradoxical" associations of OT levels and social skills in children with autism indicate disturbances at various levels of OT system. We first reported associations of OT levels in children with autism and behavioral measures in fathers indicating that OT abnormalities stay between parental autistic traits and autism symptoms in their children.

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BACKGROUND: Oxytocin is a neuropeptide affecting social behaviour. Autism spectrum disorders are characterized by social defi cits, impaired communication and repetitive behaviours. Several studies have shown reduced plasma levels of oxytocin and moreover, administration of oxytocin reduced clinical symptoms of autism. AIM: The aim of this study was to reveal differences in the plasma levels of oxytocin between autistic and healthy populations in Slovakia. METHODS: After a signed consent, 108 autism spectrum disorder patients were enrolled in the study (83 males, 25 females). A control group of 131 healthy children was recruited (106 males, 25 females). Blood samples were obtained from all children and plasma oxytocin levels were measured using the ELISA method. RESULTS: Oxytocin levels were lower in the boys older than 10 years of age in comparison to controls. There were no signifi cant differences in oxytocin levels among girls. Oxytocin levels did not signifi cantly correlate with age in either of the examined groups. CONCLUSION: Decreased oxytocin levels in plasma of autism boys may be related to decreased sociability and social interactions. The addition of psychological profi ling may reveal possible correlations of hormone levels with symptom severities (Tab. 1, Fig. 2 Acknowledgements: Authors thank all the families with autism and control group children for their participation. Study was supported by the following grants: APVV-0253-10, APVV-0254-11, VEGA-1/0066/12.

Aim: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are described as a continuum of severity gradient of autistic symptoms diffusing through particular ASD diagnoses, however the biological correlates among individuals with the different ASD diagnoses slightly or considerably differ. Oxytocin (OT) has been implicated to play an important role in autism etiology. Lower OT levels have been previously found in children with infantile autism, however in a group of high-functioning autistic subjects, no differences have been shown compared to controls. Moreover, whereas the opposite patterns of OT associations with social measures have been found in children with infantile autism compared to healthy children, no associations have been found in individuals with high-functioning autism. We aimed to find out the plasma OT differences between separate group of children with Asperger syndrome (AS) and healthy children and the associations of OT with particular autistic traits in a group of children with AS. Methods: We included 9 children (m = 6, f = 3) with AS at the age 9 to 12 years and 9 age-and gender-matched controls. OT levels were analyzed by ELISA method. Autistic traits in children with AS were evaluated by Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), child and adolescent versions. Results: Children with AS had significantly lower plasma OT levels compared to healthy children. We found the significant negative correlation of OT level and AQ Attention to detail area score. Conclusion: In spite of the lower OT level in children with AS, which is also previously found in children with infantile autism, the pattern of OT associations with autistic traits more resembles the pattern in non-autistic population. Our preliminary results support the hypothesis of continuum within the ASD particular diagnoses in the terms of biological correlates.

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