Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27928515›Full record

ArticleAutism-open access2016

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Maheen F Siddiqui, Clare Elwell, Mark H Johnson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Autism-open access, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 81 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
81citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
4.4field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

81 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 135 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Trial
  5. Trial
  6. Effects of High-Phenolic Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Sensory Processing in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study.International journal of developmental neuroscience : the official journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience · 2026
    Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
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  12. Article
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  15. Article
  16. Acetaminophen's Role in Autism and ADHD: A Mitochondrial Perspective.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
  17. Review
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. Article

21 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Maheen F SiddiquiCentre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, London, UK.
Clare ElwellMedical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK.
Mark H JohnsonCentre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, London, UK.
Birkbeck, University of London · GBUniversity College London · GB

Funding

Medical Research Council G0300025Medical Research Council G0400120Medical Research Council G0701484Medical Research Council MR/K021389/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are classified as neurodevelopmental disorders characterised by diminished social communication and interaction. Recently, evidence has accrued that a significant proportion of individuals with autism have concomitant diseases such as mitochondrial disease and abnormalities of energy generation. This has therefore led to the hypothesis that autism may be linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. We review such studies reporting decreased activity of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complexes and reduced gene expression of mitochondrial genes, in particular genes of respiratory chain complexes, in individuals with autism. Overall, the findings support the hypothesis that there is an association of ASD with impaired mitochondrial function; however, many of the studies have small sample sizes and there is variability in the techniques utilised. There is therefore a vital need to utilise novel imaging techniques, such as near-infrared spectroscopy, that will allow non-invasive measurement of metabolic markers for neuronal activity such as cytochrome c oxidase, in order to better establish the link between autism and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Indexed as

AutismElectron transport chainEnergy metabolismMitochondrial deficiencyMitochondrial dysfunctionMitochondrial health

Identifiers

PMID27928515
PMCPMC5137782
OpenAlexW2555657103

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.