Title:The Effects of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Gastrointestinal and Behavioural
Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Volume: 17
Issue: 3
Author(s): José Guevara-Gonzaléz, José Guevara-Campos, Lucía González and Omar Cauli *
Affiliation:
- Nursing Department, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Keywords:
Nutraceuticals, behavior, constipation, probiotic, fungi, gut-brain axis, prebiotic, bifidobacteria.
Abstract:
Background: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a group of prevalent neuropsychiatric
disorders. They present a complex and unknown etiology, which in most cases includes significant
peripheral alterations outside the brain such as in the composition of gut microbiota. Because
the gut microbiota is involved in modulating the gut-brain axis, several studies have suggested that
the microbiome in the gut can modify metabolites which are able to cross the blood-brain barrier
and modulate brain function.
Methods: We reviewed the current evidence regarding microbiota alterations in patients with ASD
and the effects of the administration of probiotics and prebiotics in these patients, both in terms of
gastrointestinal and behavioural symptoms.
Results: Administration of a probiotic formulation containing different strains of Lactobacillus (L.
acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, and others) and Bifidobacteria had beneficial effects upon these aforementioned
symptoms and their use is recommended in a subgroup of ASD patients that present gastrointestinal
disturbances. Nonetheless, the types of gastrointestinal disturbances that most benefit
from such interventions remain to be elucidated in order to personalize the medical approaches.
Conclusion: Recent clinical studies have shown that probiotic treatments can regulate the gut microbiota
and may result in improvements in some behavioral abnormalities associated with ASD.
Trials using prebiotic fibers or synbiotics preparations are still lacking and necessary in order to
deep in such therapeutic strategies in ASD with comorbid gastrointestinal disrturbances.