A metabolomics study of children with neurodevelopmental problems due to dioxin exposure

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In a hot spot of dioxin contamination in Vietnam, we examined social emotional behaviors by autism spectrum rating scale (ASRS) of 3-year-old children and found that the high TCDD exposed group showed higher ASRS scores as compared with the lower exposed groups, suggesting autistic traits. Then, we analyzed urinary metabolomes of the high TCDD group and age and gender matched low exposure groups and detected candidate compound to discriminate these high and low TCDD groups. Urinary histidine and tryptophan were selected for good negative markers and significant decreased levels of these amino acids were observed in the high TCDD group. However, no significant correlation was observed between dioxin levels in breast milk and urinary levels of histidine and tryptophan in 68 6-month-old infants living in another hot spot in Vietnam. They might be too young to detect alteration of urinary amino acids. We need to follow-up them for longer time and collect more number of urine specimens.