Table 4.
Effect of the severity of ASD symptoms on concentrations of BCAAs in children with ASD
| Mild to moderate ASD (n = 66) | Severe ASD (n = 78) | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 3.13 (2.65, 3.86) | 3.00 (2.42, 4.27) | 0.729 |
| Male, n (100%) | 116 (80.6) | 63 (84.0) | 0.944 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 16.50 (15.67, 18.51) | 16.42 (15.23, 17.56) | 0.292 |
| Total BCAAs (μmol/L) | 358.74 (316.0, 432.34) | 333.61 (301.37, 391.03) | 0.033 |
| Val (μmol/L) | 195.28 (169.18, 284.53) | 179.09 (160.0, 210.01) | 0.039 |
| Leu (μmol/L) | 166.10 (145.94, 204.99) | 152.63 (141.54, 176.92) | 0.056 |
Data are presented as the number (percentage) for categorical data and as the median (interquartile range) for non-parametrically distributed data. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used for comparison of the continuous variables according to the data distribution, and chi-square tests were used for the categorical variables. BCAAs branched-chain amino acids, Val valine, Leu leucine/isoleucine, BMI body mass index, ASD autism spectrum disorder