By David Liu, PHD

Friday Sept 7, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- A review article published most recently in Clinical Epigenetics suggests that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) may be at least partially responsible for the increased prevalence of autism spectrum disorders.

Autism has been on the rise in the U.S.   One in 120 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, with which children need special education.

Renee Dufault of Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute in Ocean View, HI, USA and colleagues used the mercury Toxicity Model to compare autism prevalence between the U.S. and Italy and found evidence suggesting that increasing incidence of autism spectrum disorders in the U.S. is not associated with mercury exposure from fish intake, coal-fired power plants, thimerosal (mercury)in pediatric vaccines or dental amalgam, but instead to the consumption of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

The researchers say eating HFCS may cause mineral imbalances including zinc, calcium, and phosphate loss and copper gain and also HFCS is a potential source of inorganic mercury exposure.

According to the researchers, these mineral imbalances leave room for oxidative stress induced by pesticides and heavy metals like lead and mercury.  Inorganic mercury and fructose from HFCS may both modulate PON1 gene expression. Reduced expression of PON1 gene potentially increase homocysteine levels which have been associated with genome-wide DNA hypomethylation that can pass on from one generation to the next resulting in neurological disorders like autism spectrum disorders.