Navigation
Effect of nutritional supplements on gut microbiome in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders: a systematic review and narrative synthesis
A wide range of illnesses known as neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are distinguished by disruptive symptoms, variable prevalence rates, and several contributing variables. Recent research suggests a potential link between NDDs and the gut-brain axis. Other research suggests that dietary supplements may affect behavioral and gastrointestinal (GI) problems. This study by Dehghani et al. (2025) looks at how dietary supplements affect the makeup of the gut microbiota and behavioral outcomes in people with NDDs. A thorough database search was carried out using pertinent keywords till February 2025, covering PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and APA PsycINFO. Additional gray literature sources were explored through Google Scholar and ProQuest. The results showed that supplementation reduced the Gastrointestinal Severity Index (GIS) score and benefited GI symptoms. In people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), probiotic and vitamin supplements decrease dangerous bacteria and increase the development of good microbiota. Notably, supplementation led to significant shifts in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio. Improvements were also observed in various behavioral assessments, including ATEC, ABC, CARS, and PGI-2 scores. Nutritional supplementation appears to positively affect individuals with NDDs by modulating gut microbiota, reducing dysbiosis, and strengthening gut barrier integrity. Changes in the F/B ratio may cause improvements in GI and behavioral symptoms by affecting neurotransmitter activity and neuroinflammation. These findings suggest that targeting the gut-brain axis through microbiome-focused interventions holds promise as a complementary approach for managing NDDs. [NPID: Supplementation, gut microbiome, behavioral symptoms, neurodevelopmental disorders, narrative synthesis]
Year: 2025
