Other Two Neurotypical Triplet Siblings Had a Healthy Gut Microbiome
The link between gastrointestinal symptoms and autism has long been established. Numerous prior published studies have shown significant differences between the gut functioning of children with autism to non-autistic controls. Recently, a new report from scientists at the Wake Forest School of Medicine had an unique opportunity to compare gut microbiota from triplet siblings and their healthy mother, recognizing that the genetics and environment would be nearly identical for the seven-year-old triplets and very similar to the mother. The study team used a fecal microbiome analysis for the triplets to determine if the children had a healthy gut microbiome. The triplets consisted of two girls and a boy. The boy and one girl were neurotypical. The other triplet girl had autism and suffered from gastrointestinal distress. The triplet’s mother also had a fecal microbiome analysis done for comparison to her children. The results determined that the triplet with autism had a much different gut microbiota than her two siblings. Her overall biodiversity was much lower than that of the other triplets. She also demonstrated overall gut dysbiosis, meaning that some of her levels were higher or lower in different gut bacterias than what is considered normal. The research team calls for additional studies to determine not only the cause of gut dysfunction in many children with autism but what role it plays in the disorder and how to treat it.
