Metal and essential element concentrations during pregnancy and associations with autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children

Prenatal exposure to toxic metals or variations in maternal levels of essential elements during pregnancy may be a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum (ASD) offspring. We investigated whether measured mid-pregnancy, individually mixtures, were associated with childhood diagnosis ADHD ASD. This study is based on the Norwegian Mother, Father Child Cohort Study included 705 cases, 397 ASD cases 1034 controls. Cases identified through linkage Patient Registry. Maternal concentrations 11 metals/elements blood at week 17 gestation; cadmium; cesium; cobalt; copper; lead; magnesium; manganese; selenium; zinc; total arsenic; mercury. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression models used examine associations between quartile individual outcomes. also non-linear using restricted cubic spline models. The joint effects metal/element mixture diagnoses estimated quantile-based g-computation approach. For ASD, we positive (increased risks) second arsenic [OR = 1.77 (CI: 1.26, 2.49)] fourth quartiles cadmium manganese 1.57 1.07 2.31); OR 1.84 1.30, 2.59)], respectively. In addition, there negative cesium, copper, mercury, zinc ADHD, found increased magnesium 1.59 1.15, 2.18); 1.42 1.06, 1.91)]. There some associations, among others arsenic, magnesium, lead, manganese, no significant findings approach analyses. Results from present show several gestation children. most notable ones involved cadmium, lead. Our results suggest that even population these compounds have impacts neurodevelopment. As observed mainly similarities metals’ elements’ impact it could two share neurochemical pathways. warrant further investigation replication, well studies combined mechanistic underpinnings.