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Autism spectrum disorders and the gut microbiota
This is a narrative review written in 2019 that aimed to evaluate the available research on dysbiosis (imbalance in gut microbial community) and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), while also examining the evidence for the role of probiotics and other non-pharmacological approaches in the treatment of children with ASD. After analyzing the research papers, Fattorusso et al. found that gut dysbiosis was well documented in autistic children. However, there was no unique profile of gut microbiota composition specific to people with ASD. An imbalance in gut microbial community can contribute to the low-grade systemic inflammatory state reported in patients with GI comorbidities. The most promising treatment for the neurobehavioral symptoms and bowel dysfunction is probiotics but the current clinical trials are not consistent and are few in number. Well-designed, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials are required to validate the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment of ASD and to identify the appropriate strains, doses, and timing of treatment. [NPID: probiotics, gut microbiota, gut microbes, gut bacteria, gut health, ASD, autism, autism spectrum disorder, autistic, children, gastrointestinal, GI, inflammation]
Year: 2019
