Autism and gut flora: a link?

"Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are complex neurobiological disorders whose chief manifestations are qualitative impairment in social interaction and communication and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities [1]. There is a world-wide increase in the diagnosis of ASD, which has reached an epidemic level [2]. ASD patients and their families face difficulties in treatment due to a highly diverse etiology of ASD in which genetic and environmental factors are equally important, as implied by a large twin concordance study [3]. One potentially important environmental factor is abnormal intestinal flora. A large fraction of autistic children suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) problems, and a strong positive correlation was observed between GI problems and ASD severity [4]. Up to 10¹⁴bacteria in human intestine balance the immune system, help digestion, produce vitamins, and promote GI motility [5]. Several studies have reported an increased administration of oral antibiotics to autistic children during the first 3 years of life [6]–[8], which may destabilize microbial community by eliminating beneficial bacteria and helping pathogenic bacteria colonize the intestinal walls [9]. In addition, considering the potential interactions between intestinal microbes and the central nervous system [10], abnormal intestinal flora may be associated not only with GI problems but also with ASD-related behavioral symptoms."










http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0068322