20.500.12556/DiRROS-29615 Trace element dysregulation and detoxification dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder a urinary biomarker study with element ratio analysis Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) arises from complex gene–environment interactions. While trace element abnormalities have been studied, associations with autism severity remain inconsistent. Ratios indicating detoxification balance, rather than single toxic elements, may better reflect severity. Objective: To examine the relationships between urinary trace element levels, detoxification-related element ratios, and autism severity measured by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Methods: In a crosssectional study of 168 participants (103 ASD, 65 controls), thirty urinary trace elements were quantified by ICP-MS. ASD patients were stratified by CARS into subthreshold ASD (n = 29), mild–moderate ASD (n = 36), and severe ASD (n = 38). Analyses included Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, and Spearman correlation tests, focusing on Li/Pb, Cu/Pb, and Cr/Pb ratios. Results: Individual elements showed weak associations with CARS; lead correlated positively (ρ = 0.209, p = 0.035) and lithium inversely (ρ = −0.194, p = 0.051). In contrast, element ratios showed stronger links: Li/Pb (ρ = −0.349, p = 0.0003), Cu/Pb (ρ = −0.320, p = 0.0011), and Cr/Pb (ρ = −0.209, p = 0.035). Severe ASD exhibited modest 90th-percentile elevations for toxic elements but high heterogeneity. Conclusions: Single-element levels showed limited associations with ASD severity. Element ratios, particularly Li/Pb, showed stronger statistical associations than individual elements in this cross-sectional dataset; however, these findings should be interpreted as candidate correlates rather than causal or clinically validated biomarkers. autism spectrum disorder trace elements lead llithium detoxification biomarkers CARS element ratios environmental toxins metallothionein elementi v sledovih svinec litij biomarkerji CARS razmerja elementov okoljski toksini metalotionein true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Neznano 2026-06-01 13:54:57 2026-06-01 13:54:58 2026-06-02 03:48:26 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Opis vira z dne 27. 5. 2026; 23 str. iss. 11, [article no.] 5332 Vol. 16 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 615.874.24:616.896 2076-3417 10.3390/app16115332 279467011 RAZ_Osredkar_Josko_2026.pdf RAZ_Osredkar_Josko_2026.pdf 1 6C11748690A1C6585EE709ABB3873094 98971d9f3e3524964a8d644b1903df1bc4a694d7e8f7e370ff074fa2aadb6c95 eecaaf1f-5db0-11f1-8e51-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=44459 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/16/11/5332 1 b7a03250-5db0-11f1-8e51-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=44456 Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana 0 0 0