๐ก This study delves into the intricate relationship between gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and Constipated Autism Spectrum Disorder (C-ASD).
๐ The study employs a combination of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gas chromatographyโmass spectrometry-based metabolomics to explore how microbiota composition and SCFAs levels are associated with C-ASD.
๐ Methods:
The study included 80 children divided into two groups: the C-ASD group (n=40) and the typically developing (TD) group (n=40). Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and SCFAs levels were assessed through gas chromatographyโmass spectrometry. Clinical parameters, symptom severity, and eating patterns were also evaluated.
๐ Key Findings:
a. Reduced Microbiota Diversity: The C-ASD group exhibited lower gut microbiota diversity compared to the TD group, as indicated by Observe, Chao1, and ACE indices.
b. Altered Microbiota Composition: Specific bacterial taxa (๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ค๐ฐ๐ค๐ค๐ข๐ค๐ฆ๐ข๐ฆ_๐๐๐_002, ๐๐ณ๐บ๐ด๐ช๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ฉ๐ข๐ค๐ฆ๐ข๐ฆ_๐๐๐_003, ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ด๐ค๐ฐ๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐ค๐ต๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ถ๐ฎ, ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ข๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ข๐ด etc.) were enriched in the C-ASD group, while others (๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ด, ๐๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ถ๐ด, ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ค๐ฐ๐ค๐ค๐ถ๐ด_๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ท๐ถ๐ด_๐จ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฑ, etc.) were enriched in the TD group.
c. Elevated Propionate Levels: Propionate levels were higher in the C-ASD group and positively correlated with ASD symptom severity. Notably, these levels were negatively correlated with ๐๐ข๐ค๐ต๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ถ๐ด abundance.
d. Biomarker Discovery: A random forest model utilizing 16 discriminant genera achieved high accuracy (AUC = 0.924) for distinguishing C-ASD from TD.
๐ The study highlights the gut-brain axis as a potential mechanism for how microbiota may influence ASD. Microbiota can influence the brain through neuronal pathways, neural immune pathways, and chemical signaling pathways, including SCFAs.
Probiotics as a Potential Intervention:
Probiotic treatments, especially those containing Lactobacillus, show promise for mitigating the effects of C-ASD. By modulating the gut microbiota and potentially reducing propionate levels, probiotics could offer a novel therapeutic approach for children with C-ASD.
Link to the Article: https://tinyurl.com/35ncvc6b
