Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition (한국식품영양과학회지)

The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition (한국식품영양과학회)
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Study on the Mineral and Heavy Metal Contents in the Hair of Preschool Aged Autistic Children

자폐아동 모발에서의 미네랄 및 중금속 함량에 관한 연구

  • Jung, Myung-Ae (Dept. of Food Science and Nutrition, Catholic University of Daegu) ;
  • Jang, Hyun-Seo (Korea research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology) ;
  • Park, Eun-Ju (Dept. of Food Science and Nutrition, Kyungnam university) ;
  • Lee, Han-Woo (School of Social Welfare, International University of Korea) ;
  • Choi, Jeong-Hwa (School of Food Science, International University of Korea)
  • 정명애 (대구가톨릭대학교 식품영양학과) ;
  • 장현서 (한국생명공학연구원) ;
  • 박은주 (경남대학교 식품영양학과) ;
  • 이한우 (한국국제대학교 사회복지학부) ;
  • 최정화 (한국국제대학교 식품과학부)
  • Published : 2008.11.28
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test characteristics between normal and autistic children via comparison of nutrient intakes, hair mineral, blood free radical, and serotonin contents. A total of 50 children aged 3-9 were divided into two main groups of normal control children (n=22) and autistic children (n=28) tested by child psychiatrist. The nutrient intakes by 24-hour recall method were no significantly different between the two groups. The concentrations of toxic mineral, such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in hair of autistic children were significantly higher, while concentration of antioxidant mineral (Cu, Zn, Fe) was lower than that of normal children. The autistic children had significantly higher concentrations of blood free radical than that of normal children. No significant difference was observed in serotonin concentration between the two groups. Our results suggest a possible role of increased toxic mineral and free radical, both of which may be relevant to the pathophysiology of autism in children with developmental delay.

본 연구에서는 일반아동과 자폐아동 모발의 무기질, 유해 중금속 함량, 혈액의 자유라디칼 및 세로토닌 함량을 측정함으로써 일반아동에 대한 자폐아동의 특성을 연구하고자 하였다. 실험그룹은 $3{\sim}9$세 사이의 50명의 아동을 일반아동(22명) 및 어린이 정신과 의사에 의해 판정된 자폐아동(28명)의 두 그룹으로 나누었다. 일반아동과 자폐아동 간의 나이, 신장, 체중 및 식이섭취량은 두 군간 유의적인 차이가 없었으나, 모발 중 다량미네랄 함량을 측정한 결과 Ca, Mg, P 및 S는 일반아동이 자폐아동보다 다소 높게 나타났으며, Na 및 K는 자폐아동에서 일반아동에 비해 유의적으로 높았다. 또한, 모발 중 미량미네랄 함량을 측정한 결과에서는 Cu, Zn, Fe, Cr 및 Se는 일반아동이 자폐아동보다 높게 나타났으며, 특히, Cu, Zn, Fe의 경우 두 그룹 간에 유의적인 차이를 나타내었다. Mn, B, Co 및 Mo는 두 그룹 간에 차이가 없었다. Al의 경우에는 자폐아동에서 더 높은 것을 관찰할 수 있었으나 유의적인 수준은 아니었다. 일반아동 및 자폐아동의 모발 중 유해중금속 함량을 측정한 결과 As, Hg 및 Be의 경우에는 두 그룹 간에 유의적인 차이를 나타내지 않았으나 Cd와 Pb는 일반아동에 비해 자폐아동에서 유의하게 높은 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. 혈액 내 자유라디칼 함량은 자폐아동이 일반아동에 비해 유의적으로 높게 나타났으며, 세로토닌 함량은 일반아동과 자폐아동 간의 유의적인 차이가 없었다. 이상의 결과 본 연구에서는 식이섭취량을 단 하루만을 조사하였으나 향후에는 조사기간을 더 늘리고 식품섭취유형과 패턴 및 식행동 장애 분석 등 좀 더 다양하고 깊이 있는 연구가 진행되어야 할 것이다. 또한 자폐아동은 일반아동에 비해 모발의 일부 미네랄 함량은 감소, 중금속 함량의 증가 및 자유라디칼 생성이 증가함으로써 자폐아동의 행동 및 발달장애에 영향을 미치는 것으로 사료된다. 향후 연구에서는 자폐아동에게 부족한 영양소의 보충 및 중금속 해독 영양소를 섭취함으로써 자폐아동의 행동 및 발달장애의 개선 기능에 대한 연구가 시행되어야 할 것이다.

Keywords

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