Mechanism of nitrogen metabolism-related parameters and enzyme activities in the pathophysiology of autism.

Background: There is evidence that impaired metabolism play an important role in the etiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Although this has not been investigated to date, several recent studies proposed that nitrogen metabolism-related parameters may have a pathophysiological role in autism.

Methods: The study enrolled 20 Saudi boys with autism aged 4 to 12 years and 20 healthy controls matched for age and gender.