Effects of micronutrients on neurodevelopmental disorders through the mediation of brain structure and function: A two-step Mendelian randomization analysis.

This article investigates the causal relationships between micronutrient levels and three major neurodevelopmental disorders—autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Tourette's syndrome (TS)—using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. The study found that higher serum magnesium concentrations were associated with a 16% reduced risk of ASD, increased blood erythrocyte zinc levels with an 8% reduced risk of ADHD, and elevated serum vitamin B12 concentrations with a 19% reduced risk of TS. These protective effects were partially mediated by alterations in brain imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs), reflecting changes in brain structure, function, and connectivity. The findings suggest that addressing micronutrient deficiencies could be a viable strategy for preventing neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly in populations vulnerable to malnutrition.