Role of the gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder: clinical and preclinical evidence

This 2020 paper discusses the potential role of the intestinal microbiota in the physiopathology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Environmental and genetic factors are believed to affect onset of autism. Since the incidences of gastrointestinal symptoms in autistic patients are 4 times higher than that of the general population, researchers are investigating the involvement of the gut microbiota in this disorder. Autistic patients have previously shown altered microbiota composition and unusual production of bacterial metabolites. There are also articles that support the involvement of the immune system and tryptophan metabolism (in the gut and the central nervous system) in the pathophysiology of ASD. Furthermore, several clinical studies and many preclinical studies have reported that antibiotic and probiotic treatments, as well as fecal microbiota transplantation, can possibly improve behavior in patients with autism.
[NPID: autism, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, probiotics, antibiotics, autistic, supplements, supplementation, gastrointestinal, microbiota, bacteria, gut, intestinal, transplant, transplantation]

Year: 2020

Reference: Roussin, L., Prince, N., Perez-Pardo, P., Kraneveld, A. D., Rabot, S., & Naudon, L. (2020). Role of the Gut Microbiota in the Pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Clinical and Preclinical Evidence. Microorganisms, 8(9), 1369. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8091369

Related Studies

Colitis reduces active social engagement in mice and is ameliorated by supplementation with human microbiota members

Numerous neurological conditions exhibit gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet, it remains uncertain if GI discomfort itself can influence behavior. This study by Brown et al. (2024) reveals that mice subjected to recurrent colitis display impaired social interaction despite the absence of colitis symptoms. The authors investigated whether individuals with ASD […]

Effects of probiotic supplementation on gastrointestinal, sensory and core symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A randomized controlled trial

In this double-blind, randomized trial (published in 2020), 85 preschoolers with autism were randomly assigned to receive either probiotics or placebo for 6 months. This study tested the effects of probiotics on autistic children since these “psychobiotics” were believed to enhance behavior and modulate brain activity and function. Around 74% of the child participants completed […]