News and Research: Essential Elements and Autism

Study: Associations of essential element serum concentrations with autism spectrum disorder

This Chinese study looked at serum levels of 9 minerals in children with autism compared with children not on the autism spectrum.

The results showed that children with autism had lower serum zinc and strontium levels, as well as higher potassium.  Most interesting, the degree of lithium and zinc deficiency was associated with the severity of autism symptoms.