Evaluation of iron, zinc and vitamin D deficiencies in children with autism spectrum disorder at the Hearing and Speech Institute, in Egypt

Azza Samy, Assistant Professor of Phoniatrics, Phoniatrics Department, Hearing and Speech Institute, Egypt
Iman ElRouby, Assistant Professor of Phoniatrics, Phoniatrics Department, Hearing and Speech Institute, EgyptFollow
Eman S. Eldin, Lecturer of clinical pathology, Health Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy authority, Egypt
Eman S. Abd El-Ghaffar, Fellow of clinical pathology, laboratory Department, Hearing and Speech Institute, Egypt

Article Type

Original Study

Subject Area

Speech Pathology

Abstract

Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopment disorder with a multifactorial etiology. Each iron, zinc and vitamin D are essential for cognitive, behavioral and motor development. Deficiency of any of these micronutrients may affect ASD symptoms.

Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the level of iron, zinc and vitamin D levels in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with normal children and to associate between the deficiency of these nutrient elements and the severity of ASD symptoms, in order to help in improvement of ASD symptoms by supplying the deficient elements.

Patients and methods

The study was conducted on 40 children with ASD and 40 age‑matched and sex‑matched controls. Both groups were subjected to IQ tests, language assessment and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Laboratory evaluation of their complete blood picture (CBC) parameters, iron profile, serum zinc and vitamin D was done and compared between the two groups. Moreover, the relation between these laboratory parameters and the severity of ASD was studied.

Results Hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, transferrin and vitamin D were significantly different between the two groups (p< 0.05) , while zinc was insignificantly different. Hemoglobin was significantly negatively correlated to CARS. Negative significant correlations were also present between serum iron and each CARS, IQ test and total language age (p< 0.05).

Conclusion ASD children are at risk of iron and vitamin D deficiency. Further studies are recommended to detect the impact of iron, Zn and vitamin D therapy on ASD symptoms.

IRB Number

IHS00050

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), iron profile, zinc, vitamin D.

Recommended Citation

Samy, Azza; ElRouby, Iman; Eldin, Eman S.; and El-Ghaffar, Eman S. Abd (2024) "Evaluation of iron, zinc and vitamin D deficiencies in children with autism spectrum disorder at the Hearing and Speech Institute, in Egypt," Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research: Vol. 8: Iss. 2, Article 11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59299/2537-0928.1439