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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A new study suggests that children who do not consume enough zinc during their belly are more likely to develop autism.
Scientists still have no definitive answer to the cause of autism, but the vast majority of research suggests that the disease is caused by a combination of "environmental factors" and genetic defects.
In the new study, US and German scientists claim to have evidence that zinc levels could be one of the specific environmental factors that stimulate the germs of this behavioral disorder.
Additional research is needed to confirm the existence of a causal link between zinc and autism, but the team said it has identified a potential automatic link between them.
The researchers found that zinc forms connections or "tangled dots" between brain cells formed early in development, through a complex partial mechanism that symbolizes the genes for autism risk.
"These results do not mean that pregnant women should start taking zinc supplements to prevent their children from becoming autistic," warned the research team.
"Autism is associated with certain types of genes involved in the formation and maturation of tangled dots early in development," said Dr. Sally Kim of the Stanford University School of Medicine in California. . "Our findings relate zinc levels in neurons by interacting with the proteins encoded by these genes, the development of autism."
"There is no confirmed study on the association between the risk of autism and zinc supplementation in pregnant women or children," said Professor Craig Garner of the German Center for Neurology. "We can not really draw conclusions or recommendations on zinc supplements at this stage, however," our findings lead to a new mechanism for understanding how zinc deficiency in neurons can contribute to autism " .
Zinc helps to make cells and new enzymes in the treatment of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in foods, as well as healing wounds.
Zinc-rich foods include meat, oysters and dairy products such as cheese, bread and cereals. The British National Health Agency said that most people who consume enough zinc in their diet should not take more than 25 mg of supplements daily unless the doctor recommends that they do so. While zinc deficiency leads to anemia and osteoporosis.
Understanding the relationship between zinc levels during pregnancy and autism can lead to new strategies for diagnosing, treating, and preventing the disease, the team said.
Source: Daily mail
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