Prenatal Zinc Deficient Mice as a Model for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Sauer, Ann Katrin; Hagmeyer, Simone; Grabrucker, Andreas M.

doi:10.3390/ijms23116082

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 179 publications

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“…Zinc deficiency alone during pregnancy causes ASD-like behavior in mice [158]. This is an important finding as it supports the hypothesis of metal imbalances being the cause rather than a consequence of an ASD.…”

Section: Toxic Metals Causing a Zinc Deficiency-a Model For The Conve...supporting

confidence: 75%

Metal Profiles in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Crosstalk between Toxic and Essential Metals

Błażewicz

Grabrucker

2022

IJMS

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Since hundreds of years ago, metals have been recognized as impacting our body’s physiology. As a result, they have been studied as a potential cure for many ailments as well as a cause of acute or chronic poisoning. However, the link between aberrant metal levels and neuropsychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), is a relatively new finding, despite some evident ASD-related consequences of shortage or excess of specific metals. In this review, we will summarize past and current results explaining the pathomechanisms of toxic metals at the cellular and molecular levels that are still not fully understood. While toxic metals may interfere with dozens of physiological processes concurrently, we will focus on ASD-relevant activity such as inflammation/immune activation, mitochondrial malfunction, increased oxidative stress, impairment of axonal myelination, and synapse formation and function. In particular, we will highlight the competition with essential metals that may explain why both the presence of certain toxic metals and the absence of certain essential metals have emerged as risk factors for ASD. Although often investigated separately, through the agonistic and antagonistic effects of metals, a common metal imbalance may result in relation to ASD.

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Section: Toxic Metals Causing a Zinc Deficiency-a Model For The Conve...supporting

confidence: 75%

Metal Profiles in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Crosstalk between Toxic and Essential Metals

Błażewicz

Grabrucker

2022

IJMS

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“…Low zinc status has been linked to depression in humans [44], and the beneficial effects of zinc for reducing depressive symptoms were demonstrated [45]. In addition, it is known from the literature that maternal zinc deficiency is a risk factor for neurodevelopmental diseases such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) [46][47][48]. Although this study does not have the statistical power to make correlations between children with neurodevelopmental diseases and the zinc status of mothers during pregnancies, it should be noted that Ireland has a comparably high rate of autism [49].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of low dietary zinc intake in women and pregnant women in Ireland

et al. 2022

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Background In humans, zinc is involved in many biological functions acting as signaling ion, neurotransmitter, structural component of proteins, and cofactor for many enzymes and, through this, is an important regulator of the immune and nervous system. Food supplies zinc to the human body, but a high prevalence of inadequate dietary zinc intake has been reported worldwide. Aims The objective of this study was to investigate the zinc intake and bioavailability of over 250 women (pregnant and non-pregnant) based in Ireland, in order to evaluate the dietary inadequacy of zinc. Methodology We used a food frequency questionnaire designed to assess the zinc intake and bioavailability of the participants. Results Our results show that 58% of participants are at risk of inadequate zinc intake and that 29% may be zinc deficient. The prevalence of inadequate zinc intake was lower for pregnant women (zinc deficient 9%, at risk 38%) than for non-pregnant women due to more frequent consumption of supplements. Low zinc intake was not correlated with the age of participants and resulted from a combination of inadequate intake of zinc-rich food and relatively higher intake of food items rich in phytate, a major zinc uptake inhibitor. Conclusions We conclude that at present, low zinc intake may be prevalent in as much as 87% of women, including 47% of pregnant women. Therefore, zinc status needs to be considered as a factor impacting the health of women, and in particular pregnant women, also in industrialized and developed countries such as Ireland. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11845-022-03181-w.

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“…While acute zinc deficiency in adolescents and adults may be linked to MDD, early-life zinc deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This is nicely illustrated in a review article by Sauer et al in this issue [ 5 ]. The review summarizes findings from animal studies using prenatal zinc-deficient mice that display neurobiological and ASD-like behavioral abnormalities and highlights potential underlying pathomechanisms.…”

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confidence: 78%