International Meeting for Autism Research: The Measurement of Reduced and Oxidized Glutathione Levels in the Sera of Autistic Children in Oman

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Franklin Hall B Level 4 (Philadelphia Marriott Downtown)

2:00 PM

M. Waly , Food Science and Nutrition, Sultan Qaboos University, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Muscat, Oman

Y. Al-Farsi , Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

A. Ali , Dept of Food Science and Nutrition, Sultan Qaboos University, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Muscat, Oman

M. Al-Shafaee , Family Medicine and Public Health, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

M. Al-Sharbati , Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

Background: Glutathione is the major intracellular antioxidant and it plays a crucial role in cellular defense against oxidative stress generated by free radicals. The ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) is an indicator for the cellular redox status. Recent studies have shown that autistic children have a low GSH/GSSG ratio as compared to controls group. There are no published reports about such studies in Oman.

Objectives: This study is aiming to measure the following biochemical parameters in the serum samples of autistic children that are recruited for this study:

1- Reduced glutathione (GSH) level.

2- Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) level.

Methods: A cross-sectional study that involves screening recently diagnosed autistic children in Oman, for GSH/GSSG ratio estimation using commercial assay kit, catalog #k264-100, Biovision Inc, USA.

Results: A low GSH/GSSG ratio indicates a cellular oxidative stress as evident by low level of reduced GSH as compared to oxidized GSH level.

Conclusions: Results of this study will emphasize the oxidative stress role in the pathogenesis of autism in Oman.

See more of: Clinical Phenotype
See more of: Autism Symptoms