ABSTRACT
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of complex brain development disorders that include autistic disorders and Asperger’s syndrome (AS). The prevalence of ASD has increased from 6.7 per 1000 children in 2000 to 14.6% in 2012. The major symptoms of ASD include abnormalities in speech/communication, social skills, sensory/mental awareness, and behavior/health. Environmental and genetic factors are considered contributing agents for this disease. The current standard treatment considered unsatisfactory because one or two drugs may not affect multiple abnormal symptoms that are associated with ASD. Among initial biochemical abnormalities, increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and glutamate initiate and promote the progression of ASD. Therefore, simultaneous attenuation these biochemical defects may reduce the risk of developing ASD, and in combination with standard care, improve the management of this disease. This chapter describes, prevalence, cost, environmental and genetic factors, major symptoms, and brain pathology, and presents evidence to show that increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and glutamate are involved in the development and progression of ASD. This chapter also suggests a mixture of micronutrients that may simultaneously attenuate these biochemical abnormalities involved in ASD, and thereby, prevent, and in combination with standard therapy, improve the management of this disorder.
