The Role of Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a significant health problem with no known single cause. There is a vast number of evidence to suggest that oxidative stress plays an important role in this disorder. The author of this article reviewed the current literature in order to summarise the knowledge on t...

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Main Author: Aleksandra Kuźniar-Pałka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/2/388
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author Aleksandra Kuźniar-Pałka
author_facet Aleksandra Kuźniar-Pałka
author_sort Aleksandra Kuźniar-Pałka
collection DOAJ
description Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a significant health problem with no known single cause. There is a vast number of evidence to suggest that oxidative stress plays an important role in this disorder. The author of this article reviewed the current literature in order to summarise the knowledge on the subject. In this paper, the role of oxidative stress is investigated in the context of its influence on pathogenesis, the use of oxidative stress biomarkers as diagnostic tools and the use of antioxidants in ASD treatment. Given the heterogeneity of ASD aetiology and inadequate treatment approaches, the search for common metabolic traits is essential to find more efficient diagnostic tools and treatment methods. There are increasing data to suggest that oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of ASD, both directly and through its interplay with inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Oxidative stress biomarkers appear to have good potential to be used as diagnostic tools to aid early diagnosis of ASD. The results are most promising for glutathione and its derivatives and also for isoprostanses. Probably, complex dedicated multi-parametric metabolic panels may be used in the future. Antioxidants show good potential in ASD-supportive treatment. In all described fields, the data support the importance of oxidative stress but also a need for further research, especially in the context of sample size and, preferably, with a multicentre approach.
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spelling doaj-art-f4868577de5d40ca9ab4beca308dfc1c2025-08-20T03:12:16ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-02-0113238810.3390/biomedicines13020388The Role of Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and TreatmentAleksandra Kuźniar-Pałka0Clinic of Pediatric and Adolescent Neurology, Institute of Mother and Child, 01-211 Warsaw, PolandAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a significant health problem with no known single cause. There is a vast number of evidence to suggest that oxidative stress plays an important role in this disorder. The author of this article reviewed the current literature in order to summarise the knowledge on the subject. In this paper, the role of oxidative stress is investigated in the context of its influence on pathogenesis, the use of oxidative stress biomarkers as diagnostic tools and the use of antioxidants in ASD treatment. Given the heterogeneity of ASD aetiology and inadequate treatment approaches, the search for common metabolic traits is essential to find more efficient diagnostic tools and treatment methods. There are increasing data to suggest that oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of ASD, both directly and through its interplay with inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Oxidative stress biomarkers appear to have good potential to be used as diagnostic tools to aid early diagnosis of ASD. The results are most promising for glutathione and its derivatives and also for isoprostanses. Probably, complex dedicated multi-parametric metabolic panels may be used in the future. Antioxidants show good potential in ASD-supportive treatment. In all described fields, the data support the importance of oxidative stress but also a need for further research, especially in the context of sample size and, preferably, with a multicentre approach.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/2/388ASDoxidative stressoxidative stress biomarkersantioxidants
spellingShingle Aleksandra Kuźniar-Pałka
The Role of Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment
Biomedicines
ASD
oxidative stress
oxidative stress biomarkers
antioxidants
title The Role of Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment
title_full The Role of Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment
title_fullStr The Role of Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment
title_short The Role of Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment
title_sort role of oxidative stress in autism spectrum disorder pathophysiology diagnosis and treatment
topic ASD
oxidative stress
oxidative stress biomarkers
antioxidants
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/2/388
work_keys_str_mv AT aleksandrakuzniarpałka theroleofoxidativestressinautismspectrumdisorderpathophysiologydiagnosisandtreatment
AT aleksandrakuzniarpałka roleofoxidativestressinautismspectrumdisorderpathophysiologydiagnosisandtreatment