Arsenic

Category: toxic_elements

Information Sheet

What It Is

Arsenic is a metalloid and Group 1 carcinogen, a major global toxicant (contaminated water/food). In the Vergani 2011 autism plasma-metal study it showed the largest elevation (~6x) of any element measured.

Mechanism & Notes

• Inhibits key enzymes (e.g. pyruvate dehydrogenase via lipoic-acid binding), depletes glutathione, generates reactive oxygen species
• Group 1 carcinogen; the headline finding (largest fold-change) in the autism plasma-metal figure

Mentions

VVergani L et al. (Res Autism Spectr Disord 2011)view source ↗

Vergani et al. 2011, 'Metals, metallothioneins and oxidative stress in blood of autistic children' (Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders). Case-control plasma study (ICP-AES, ng metal/g plasma) — the source of the box-plot figure shared by @BioavailableNd. Seven elements significantly higher in autistic children (Zn, Ca, Fe, As, Ni, Cd, Si). Largest elevations: ARSENIC (~6x) and IRON (~5x); cadmium and zinc clearly raised. NICKEL only marginally higher (~3 ng/g in both groups) — does NOT support the '30-fold nickel' claim. Also raised metallothionein mRNA and SOD, lower catalase. Association, not causation; small single Italian cohort.

Compounds: nickel, arsenic, cadmium, iron, zinc