Glutathione metabolism in the prefrontal brain of adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder: an MRS study.
Dominique Endres, Ludger Tebartz van Elst, Simon A Meyer and 11 others
PMID 28316774WHAT IT FOUND
Adults with high-functioning autism had no significant difference in prefrontal glutathione compared with controls.
A lower anterior cingulate glutathione trend was not stable. The study does not provide evidence for brain antioxidant differences to guide therapy.
Key findings
01The overall comparison of all six measured neurometabolites showed no significant group differences in either prefrontal region.
02Anterior cingulate glutathione was numerically lower in the autism group (1.79 mM vs 1.98 mM, p=0.076), but the trend was not stable after adjustment (p=0.147).
03Secondary single-metabolite tests reported lower anterior cingulate myo-inositol (5.82 mM vs 6.31 mM, p=0.018) and region-specific creatine differences (p=0.048 and p=0.013).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The analysed sample was 24 autism spectra and 18 control spectra, so small differences could be missed. The study included only adults with IQ above 90, so it does not represent people with lower-functioning autism or children. Participants were adults aged 25 to 57 in the autism group and 24 to 60 in controls, and the authors noted that metabolic differences might change over development. Some patients were taking medication, including antidepressants, neuroleptics, or methylphenidate, which could affect oxidative stress, although medicated and unmedicated patients did not differ significantly. The method measured reduced glutathione only; oxidized glutathione was below detection, so the full redox ratio could not be assessed. Glutathione measurement with standard spectroscopy is disputed because its signal overlaps with other brain chemicals.
Declared interests
The article text does not include a conflict-of-interest or funding declaration. The publication types list non-U.S. government research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that glutathione metabolism is normal in autism. The study analysed 24 adults with high-functioning autism and 18 controls, measured only two prefrontal regions, and could not measure oxidized glutathione, so the null primary result is limited.