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World J Psychiatry. Mar 19, 2026; 16(3): 112418
Published online Mar 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i3.112418
Published online Mar 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i3.112418
Serum folate and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in pediatric autism spectrum disorder and their predictive role in illness severity
Li-Bin Chen, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China
Xiao-Qin Xu, The School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China
Yan-Hui Chen, Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China
Author contributions: Chen LB designed the research and wrote the first manuscript; Chen LB, Xu XQ and Chen YH contributed to conceiving the research and analyzing data; Chen LB conducted the analysis and provided guidance for the research.
Supported by Fujian Provincial Health Technology Project, No. 2020QNA012.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital.
Informed consent statement: Patient/guardian were not required to give informed consent to the study because the analysis used anonymous clinical data that were obtained after each patient/guardian agreed to treatment by written consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-a checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-a checklist of items.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Corresponding author: Yan-Hui Chen, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No. 29 Xinquan Road, Gulou District, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China. deag0225@126.com
Received: September 16, 2025
Revised: November 13, 2025
Accepted: December 10, 2025
Published online: March 19, 2026
Processing time: 163 Days and 23.3 Hours
Revised: November 13, 2025
Accepted: December 10, 2025
Published online: March 19, 2026
Processing time: 163 Days and 23.3 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: We selected 53 autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-affected children and 50 healthy controls. Serum folate (SF) was down-regulated and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was up-regulated in ASD children. Both indices related closely to illness severity and could reflect therapeutic effectiveness. Moreover, low SF and high BDNF levels held predictive value for ASD aggravation in children.