Lower strontium in two different body matrices in neurodevelopmental disorders: A preliminary report

Background Environmental factors, including elemental homeostasis, have not been studied sufficiently in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). This study aims to compare the status of 13 elements in blood and deciduous teeth dentine of children having an autism spectrum disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with typically developing controls. Methods Elements including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, chromium, manganese, mercury, lead, cadmium, molybdenum, and strontium in both deciduous teeth and blood were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results Strontium levels in both blood and teeth samples were found to be significantly lower in the NDD group. Additionally, blood cadmium and mercury levels, and copper/zinc ratio were higher in the NDD group. Conclusions Our results warrant further investigation in a large series of NDD examining symptom levels and genetic variations associated with elemental homeostasis.