Autistic children’s eating behaviors and early feeding patterns shape their gut microbiota. Targeted diet and probiotics may help repopulate the microbial community associated with intestinal inflammation.
Study: The influence of feeding behavior and dietary patterns on the formation of the gut microbiota in children with autism spectrum disorders. Image credit: Juriah Mosin/Shutterstock.com
Recent research published in journals nutrients Found to have autism spectrum disorder is associated with changes in the composition of children’s gut microbiota, depending on dietary habits and food choices. This study also highlights the potential importance of individualized dietary interventions in altering gut microbiota composition and intestinal barrier markers.
Gut health in autism is determined by food selectivity
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has become a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder among children around the world. Recent international survey data estimates that 1 in 31 children aged 4 to 8 years has ASD.
In addition to neuropsychiatric symptoms, children with ASD exhibit a variety of physical symptoms, including immune dysfunction, gastrointestinal complications, and eating disorders. These conditions may influence the development and progression of ASD primarily through the gut microbiota-brain axis.
Existing evidence indicates that children with ASD often have an altered composition of their gut microbiota, which causes systemic inflammation by activating immune cells. These cells can compromise microglial activity and gut and blood-brain barrier integrity, which are key features of ASD.
Gastrointestinal complications can also cause sleep disturbances, irritability, and aggression, leading to worsening of the core symptoms of ASD. These symptoms can be misinterpreted by medical professionals as core symptoms of the disease rather than as indicators of gastrointestinal discomfort, which can delay diagnosis of the actual gastrointestinal pathology.
To avoid delays in the diagnosis of physical health complications and the consequent worsening of the core symptoms of ASD, significant efforts have recently been made to investigate changes in the composition of the gut microbiota, the prevalence of comorbid medical conditions, and the relationship with the core symptoms of ASD.
The current study aimed to characterize the composition of the gut microbiota in relation to dietary habits and nutritional intake. The effects of personalized dietary intervention and short-term probiotic supplementation on gut microbiota composition and intestinal barrier markers were also investigated.
Examining changes in the microbiome after dietary intervention
The study included 96 children with ASD and 39 children without neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders (control group).
Fecal samples from all participants were collected and analyzed for gut microbiota composition at baseline. Biomarkers of intestinal inflammation and barrier function were also evaluated. Information regarding dietary habits and dietary patterns was collected through questionnaires.
Children with ASD were prescribed rotational or elimination diets based on clinical examination, laboratory evaluation, and parent interview. An elimination diet is a meal plan that temporarily eliminates commonly associated foods and then systematically reintroduces them one by one. A rotation diet refers to eating different types of foods over a period of time, rather than eating the same thing consistently.
The children followed these diets for 6 months and also took probiotic preparations for 1.5 months. At the end of the intervention period, 60 children with ASD who completed follow-up assessments were evaluated for all gut-related parameters.
Selective diet is associated with inflammatory gut bacteria
The study found that the composition of the gut microbiota in children with ASD was significantly altered compared to children without the disorder. However, this study did not identify significant differences in overall microbial diversity between groups, despite significant differences in specific bacterial taxa.
In children with ASD who are breastfed, increased amounts of certain bacteria are observed, which may contribute to the development of gastrointestinal disorders and neuropsychiatric disorders. These children also had reduced amounts of butyrate-producing bacteria, which are essential for maintaining intestinal barrier integrity, reducing inflammation, and improving metabolic health.
Characterization of the gut microbiota of formula-fed children with ASD showed increased abundance of potentially undesirable bacteria. There has been a link between some of these bacteria and depression.
In addition to the type of feeding, dietary habits also have a significant impact on the composition of the gut microbiota. Children with ASD who exhibited selective feeding behaviors were shown to have higher levels of bacterial taxa associated with inflammatory activity, which may contribute to gastrointestinal disturbances and neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Children with ASD who did not exhibit selective eating habits also had elevated levels of inflammation-related bacteria compared to controls. However, comparing children with ASD with and without selective dietary patterns revealed increased populations of both inflammatory-associated and anti-inflammatory bacteria. The increase in anti-inflammatory bacteria may represent a compensatory response to enhanced inflammatory signaling.
Food selectivity, a common feature of eating disorders in children with ASD, is associated with inadequate intake of essential nutrients. Restricting food groups that support a healthy gut microbiome, such as fruits, vegetables, and fiber, can reduce the number of beneficial microorganisms while promoting the growth of potentially harmful bacteria.
Regarding dietary intervention, the study found that children with ASD who followed an elimination diet had increased levels of bacteria that produce beneficial short-chain fatty acids.
Gut microbiota profiles of children with ASD who underwent rotational dieting also showed mixed microbial changes, including potentially beneficial changes in specific bacterial populations. However, an increase in bacterial taxa associated with inflammatory activity was observed regardless of dietary adherence.
Overall, these findings suggest that different types of dietary interventions are associated with multidirectional changes in gut microbiota composition, affecting both potentially beneficial and potentially pathogenic bacterial populations. Further studies in larger cohorts Randomized controlled trials are needed for a deeper understanding.
Of the children with ASD who participated in the study, 81 were boys and 15 were girls. Although sex differences in gut microbiota only become evident during adolescence, the researchers said they could not completely rule out residual confounding due to a significant sex imbalance between groups.
The researchers also cautioned that the study had a non-randomized design and combined dietary therapy and probiotic supplementation, making it difficult to determine the individual contribution of each intervention to the observed microbiota changes.
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Reference magazines:
- Smolco NA. (2026). The influence of feeding behavior and dietary patterns on the formation of the gut microbiota in children with autism spectrum disorders. nutrients. Doi: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/10/1506. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/10/1506
