Increased Copper In Individuals with Autism Normalizes Post Zinc Therapy More Efficiently In Individuals with Concurrent GI Disease

Background: Because of the potential association between Zn and Cu levels and neurological disease, including autism, we tested patients with autism for plasma concentration of these elements and then compared those levels with severity of disease symptoms.

Objectives: To assess plasma zinc and copper concentration in individuals with autism.

Methods: Plasma from 79 autistic individuals (diagnosed by the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised - ADI-R), and 18 age and gender similar neurotypical controls, were tested for plasma zinc and copper using inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

Results: Autistic individuals had significantly elevated plasma levels of copper and Cu/Zn and lower, but not significantly lower, concentration of plasma Zn compared to neurotypical controls. Zn levels increased significantly in autistic individuals with GI Disease and without GI disease after zinc therapy. Cu decreased significantly after zinc therapy in the GI disease group but not in the autistic group without GI disease. Autistic children significantly improved with respect to hyperactivity and stimming after zinc therapy in autistic children with GI disease. Autistic children without GI disease did not improve in hyperactivity or stimming after the same therapy.

Conclusions: These results suggest an association between zinc and copper plasma levels and autistic children, and that zinc therapy may be most effective at lowering copper levels in autistic children with GI disease.