Objectives: In this study, we measured serum levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerol in the 112 male subjects with high-functioning autism and 106 age-matched healthy male subjects.
Methods: The size distribution of serum lipoprotein particles was evaluated by high sensitivity lipoprotein profiling system with high-performance liquid chromatography (Skylight Biotech, Inc., Akita, Japan). Samples were diluted 20 times and analyzed at a flow rate of 350 ml/min by monitoring the concentrations of total cholesterol and triacylglycerol.
Results: The serum levels of total cholesterol and triacylglycerol in the infant subjects with high-functioning autism were significantly lower (Mann-Whitney U test: p < 0.001) than those of normal control subjects. In each fraction, there were significant differences in the serum levels of very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction. In particular, it’s remarkable in VLDL fraction of triacylglycerol (p< 0.00003). However, there were no differences between the patients with autism and healthy subjects in serum chylomicron and low density lipoprotein (LDL)levels.
Conclusions: The association between autism and abnormal serum lipid profile suggests that individuals with high-functioning autism may be at increased risk for VLDL hypolipidemia in infancy and which might be implicated in the pathophysiology of autism.