Autism Studies and Related Medical Conditions, January 2009 - TACA

Laboratoire de Nutrition et Sécurité Alimentaire, INRA, domaine de Vilvert, 78352
Jouy-en-Josas cedex, France. vancasse@jouy.inra.fr
Phospholipid fatty acids are major structural components of neuronal cell
membranes, which modulate membrane fluidity and hence function. Evidence
from clinical and biochemical sources have indicated changes in the metabolism
of fatty acids in several psychiatric disorders. We examined the phospholipid
fatty acids in the plasma of a population of autistic subjects compared to
mentally retarded controls. Our results showed a marked reduction in the levels
of 22: 6n-3 (23%) in the autistic subjects, resulting in significantly lower levels of
total (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (20%), without significant
reduction in the (n-6) PUFA series, and consequently a significant increase in the
(n-6)/(n-3) ratio (25%). These variations are discussed in terms of potential
differences in PUFA dietary intake, metabolism, or incorporation into cellular
membranes between the two groups of subjects. These results open up
interesting perspectives for the investigation of new biological indices in autism.
Moreover, this might have new therapeutic implications in terms of child
nutrition. Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
PMID: 11487301 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Van Gelder NM, Sherwin AL, Sacks C, Anderman F. Biochemical observations following
administration of taurine to patients with epilepsy. Brain Res. 1975 Aug 29;94(2):297-
306.
Amino acid analysis of plasma and urine obtained from 12 patients with epilepsy
indicated that the plasma concentrations of taurine and glutamic acid were much
higher than might have been expected. Glutamic acid in urine was also increased
in these patients. Oral administration of taurine did not appreciably affect the
levels of amino acids in plasma or urine with the exception of that of glutamic
acid. In patients with an abnormal plasma concentration of glutamic acid, the
administration of taurine caused glutamic acid levels to change in the direction of
normal values along with a decrease in the urinary excretion of this amino acid.
This action of taurine was independent of either its initial or final plasma
concentration. Amino acid concentrations in the CSF were within normal range
and were not influenced by taurine administration. The selective elevation of
both taurine and glutamic acid in the plasma, combined with previous findings of
a deficiency of these same amino acids in human and experimental epileptogenic
brain, implies that some patients with epilepsy may suffer from an aberration in
taurine and glutamic acid metabolism. Taurine administration appears to partially
correct these biochemical abnormalities. Theoretically, such normalization of the
amino acid profile in epileptogenic brain may be beneficial, but clinical signs of
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