Metallomic Profiling of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Insights from Hair Sample Analysis.

The rising prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the past decade is a pressing concern that underscores the urgent need to investigate its etiology. While this issue is recognized globally, there is a significant lack of data specific to Bosnia and Herzegovina, making comprehensive analysis essential. To address this gap, this study analyzed 41 hair samples from children categorized into three age subgroups (3-5 years, 6-9 years, 10-12 years) and differentiated by gender within both control and ASD groups. The concentrations of essential metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) as well as potentially toxic metals (Cd, Co, Ni, Pb) were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). This research aims to provide valuable insights into the metallomic differences that may contribute to the understanding of ASD in this population. Females with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibited elevated levels of Fe, Ni, and Cd across all age subgroups, surpassing reference values, while ASD males also showed increased Cd content. The control subgroup of 3-5-year-olds and all ASD female subgroups had Co levels exceeding the reference limit. Alarmingly, elevated Pb levels were found in all hair samples, with ASD males showing values that were twice as high as the reference. Statistically significant differences were identified in the concentrations of Cd, Fe, and Zn in females, as well as Pb in males, between the control and ASD groups. These findings underscore the urgent need for further research to elucidate the role of heavy metals in the etiology of ASD.