Gastrointestinal alterations in autism spectrum disorder: What do we know?. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bjørklund, Geir; Pivina, Lyudmila; Dadar, Maryam; Meguid, Nagwa A.; Semenova, Yuliya; Anwar, Mona; Chirumbolo, Salvatore
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 118(2020)
• Page Start: 111
• Page End: 120
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Autism -- Gastrointestinal -- Digestion -- Children -- Gut microbiota -- Gut-brain axis; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.06.033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently have gastrointestinal symptoms. The intestinal microbiota may be different in ASD patients compared to controls. In ASD, a connection may exist between the gut microbiome, GI symptoms, and behavior. The gut-brain axis may affect brain development and behaviors. Abstract: There is an emerging body of evidence associating children having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, such as abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, gastroesophageal reflux, intestinal infections, and increased intestinal permeability. Moreover, in many studies, large differences in the composition of intestinal microbiota and metabolic products between ASD patients and controls were reported. Deepening the role and the biology of the gut microbiome may be fundamental to elucidate the onset of GI symptoms in ASD individuals and their etiopathogenetic causes. The gut-brain axis may affect brain development and behaviors through the neuroendocrine, neuroimmune, and autonomic nervous systems.