Emerging evidence suggests that dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is associated with ASD.
Dysbiois often leads to low levels of SCFAs.
When the microbes that are known to be producers of SCFAs are not present in beneficial quantities, less SCFAs are available to modulate neurogenesis and neurotransmitter levels, among other beneficial actions.
Low Prevotella spp. which are important gut fermenters, may be seen in individuals affected by ASD.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that children diagnosed with autism had notably more Clostridium spp. when compared to control cohorts.
Increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios are linked to ASD. Bacteroidetes should typically comprise ~65% of the microbiome, with Firmicutes comprising ~28%.
Knowing that imbalances in numbers and ratios of certain microbial phyla and genera are related to the incidence of ASD, how can we turn this theory into a practical means of understanding how we, or our loved ones, can make positive changes to manage ASD?
A good place to start is with a stool sampling test. Quality stool profiling can elucidate the composition of the gut microbiome and provide unparalleled insight to the foundations of disorder.
Argou-Cardozo I, Zeidán-Chuliá F. Clostridium Bacteria and Autism Spectrum Conditions: A Systematic Review and Hypothetical Contribution of Environmental Glyphosate Levels. Med Sci (Basel). 2018;6(2):29. Published 2018 Apr 4. doi:10.3390/medsci6020029
Abdellatif B, McVeigh C, Bendriss G, Chaari A. The Promising Role of Probiotics in Managing the Altered Gut in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(11):4159. Published 2020 Jun 10. doi:10.3390/ijms21114159
Vuong HE, Hsiao EY. Emerging Roles for the Gut Microbiome in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2017;81(5):411-423. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.08.024