New Study Provides Further Evidence that Gut Microbial Dysbiosis is Linked to ASD
New research from China demonstrates that children with autism carry altered gut bacteria compared to children without the disorder. The authors of this new study started their research by recognizing many previous works have already tied altered gut microbiota to autism spectrum disorder. However, they distinguished their work by stating their goal was to identify the actual altered bacterial species that children with autism carry in their digestive tract. To achieve this objective, the research team examined 101 pediatric patients with autism and 103 typically developing children. Fecal samples were collected from all 204 participants. After the samples had been analyzed, the team found significant increases in the relative abundances of Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Escherichia-Shigella in the digestive tract of children with autism compared to healthy controls. They also discovered significant decreases of Blautia and unclassified _f_Lachnospiraceae in the digestive tract of children with autism compared to typically developing controls. The study’s authors believe their research points to even more evidence of gut microbial dysbiosis in autism spectrum disorder.
