Ferritin and iron levels in children with autistic disorder

• Published in: European journal of pediatrics Vol. 171; no. 1; pp. 143 - 146
• Main Authors: Hergüner, Sabri, Keleşoğlu, Fatih Mehmet, Tanıdır, Cansaran, Çöpür, Mazlum
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.01.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Age; Anemia; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - blood; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - complications; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - diagnosis; Anemias. Hemoglobinopathies; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Autism; Autistic Disorder - blood; Autistic Disorder - complications; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child clinical studies; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Developmental disorders; Diseases of red blood cells; Enzymes; Female; Ferritins - blood; General aspects; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hematologic Tests; Hematology; Hemoglobin; Humans; Infantile autism; Investigations; Iron; Iron - blood; Laboratories; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental disorders; Mental health; Neurological disorders; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Preschool children; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Restless legs syndrome; Istanbul Turkey; Turkey; Autism; Children; Iron deficiency; Anemia; Ferritin; Human; Pediatrics; Iron deficiency anemia; Metabolic diseases; Hemopathy; Developmental disorder; Iron; Inorganic element; Sideropenia; Child
• ISSN: 0340-6199; 1432-1076; 1432-1076
• DOI: 10.1007/s00431-011-1506-6

Iron has an important role on cognitive, behavioral, and motor development. High prevalence of iron deficiency has been reported in autism. The aim of this study was to investigate iron status in a group of children with autistic disorder. The sample was composed of 116 children between 3 and 16 years with a diagnosis of autistic disorder according to DSM-IV criteria. Serum ferritin, iron, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and red cell distribution width values were measured. We found that 24.1% of subjects had iron deficiency, and 15.5% had anemia. There was a significant positive correlation between age and ferritin and hematological measures. Results of this study confirmed that iron deficiency and anemia are common in children with autistic disorder. Conclusion : These findings suggest that ferritin levels should be measured in subjects with autism as a part of routine investigation.