A Clinical and Laboratory Evaluation of Methionine Cycle-Transsulfuration and Androgen Pathway Markers in Children with Autistic Disorders
David A. Geier
Mark R. Geier
President, MedCon, Inc., 14 Redgate Ct., Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA, Tel. +1 301 384 6988, E-Mail DavidAllenGeier@comcast.net, and b President, The Genetic Centers of America, 14 Redgate Ct., Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA, Tel. +1 301 989 0548, Fax +1 301 989 1543, E-Mail mgeier@comcast.net
Abstract
Background/Aims: The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is 1 in 300 children in the US. ASDs are characterized by impairments in social relatedness and communication, repetitive behaviors, abnormal movement patterns, and sensory dysfunction. Pre-pubertal age children with ASDs were assessed for metabolites in the methionine cycletranssulfuration and androgen pathways, and for present physical development/behaviors indicative of hyperandrogenicity. Methods: The Institutional Review Board of the Institute for Chronic Illnesses (Offi ce for Human Research Protections, US Department of Health and Human Services IRB number: IRB00005375) approved the present study. Sixteen consecutive pre-pubertal age children (^ 11 years old; mean 8 SD: 5.9 8 2.1 years old) with previously diagnosed ASDs that presented to the Genetic Centers of America for outpatient care were evaluated. Results: Signifi cantly (p ! 0.01) increased levels of serum/plasma dehydroepiandrosterone and serum total testosterone relative to the age- and sexspecifi c normal laboratory reference ranges were observed. Conversely, serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels were signifi cantly (p ! 0.01) decreased. Plasma-reduced glutathione (p ! 0.01), plasma cysteine (p ! 0.01), plasma methionine (p ! 0.01), serum cystathionine (p ! 0.05), and serum homocysteine (p ! 0.01) were all signifi cantly decreased. Conclusion: The results suggest a possible cyclical interaction between the methionine cycle-transsulfuration and androgen pathways in some children with ASDs.