Gut Reactions: How Far Are We from Understanding and Manipulating the Microbiota Complexity and the Interaction with Its Host? Lessons from Autism Spectrum Disorder Studies

Nutrients

Martina Lombardi¹  Jacopo Troisi¹ 

[1] Department of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132-84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy;

关键词: autism spectrum disorder;    gut microbiota;    gut–brain axis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nu13103492

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Autism is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by early onset difficulties in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests. It is characterized by familial aggregation, suggesting that genetic factors play a role in disease development, in addition to developmentally early environmental factors. Here, we review the role of the gut microbiome in autism, as it has been characterized in case-control studies. We discuss how methodological differences may have led to inconclusive or contradictory results, even though a disproportion between harmful and beneficial bacteria is generally described in autism. Furthermore, we review the studies concerning the effects of gut microbial-based and dietary interventions on autism symptoms. Also, in this case, the results are not comparable due to the lack of standardized methods. Therefore, autism-specific microbiome signatures and, consequently, possible microbiome-oriented interventions are far from being recognized. We argue that a multi-omic longitudinal implementation may be useful to study metabolic changes connected to microbiome changes.

【 授权许可】

Unknown