An investigation of the relationship between acylcarnitine oxidation and autism.Fatty Acid fatty acid, any of the organic carboxylic acids present in fats and oils as esters of glycerol. Molecular weights of fatty acids vary over a wide range. The carbon skeleton of any fatty acid is unbranched. Some fatty acids are saturated, i.e. Oxidation Disorders (FAODs) are inborn inborn /in·born/ (in´born?) 1. genetically determined, and present at birth. 2. congenital. in·born adj. 1. Possessed by an organism at birth. 2. metabolic disorders that can lead to severe illness and death. Specific acylcarnitines are elevated in certain FAODs; therefore measurement of acylcarnitines serves as a diagnostic tool for these disorders. A small number of case reports have described autistic autistic /au·tis·tic/ (aw-tis´tik) characterized by or pertaining to autism. features in mildly affected individuals with FAODs. Therefore, we used tandem mass spectroscopy to measure acylcarnitine levels in autistic individuals and their family members screening for defects in FAO FAO, n See Food and Agriculture Organization. . To date, more than 300 samples have been screened. Observations of plasma acylcarnitine levels in autistic individuals, their family members, and published controls will be discussed. |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion