Differences in the uptake of multiple toxic and essential elements during the second and third trimesters and early postnatal periods are associated with the risk of developing autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), according to researchers from the Senator Frank R. Lautenberg Environmental Health Sciences Laboratory and the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, who used baby teeth in their work.

The critical developmental windows for the observed discrepancies varied for each element, suggesting that systemic dysregulation of environmental pollutants and dietary elements may serve an important role in ASD. In addition to identifying specific environmental factors that influence risk, the study pinpointed developmental time periods when elemental dysregulation poses the biggest risk for autism later in life.

While the genetic components of ASDs have been intensely studied, specific environmental factors and the stages of life when such exposures may have the biggest impact on the risk of developing autism are poorly understood. Previous research has linked fetal and early childhood exposure to toxic metals and deficiencies of nutritional elements with several adverse developmental outcomes, including intellectual disability and language, attentional, and behavioral problems.

– Read more via Baby Teeth Offer Clues to Autism Risks | Dentistry Today