Gut health and autism are connected through the gut-brain axis, which means an imbalance in gut microbiota can cause disturbances in mood, behavior, and cognitive functioning in autistic individuals. Many autistic children were seen to experience gut-based disturbances. Let us explore the connection between gut health and autism in this article.
How can the gut be connected to the brain?
The gut can be connected to the brain through the gut-brain axis. The metabolites present in the gut can affect the brain, which in turn can affect behavior. Neurons mostly (90 percent of the time) communicate with the brain. So, changes in gut microbiome can definitely impact brain functioning.
How can gut health be linked to Autism?
Research in this area is still evolving. In a study, researchers analyzed the stool samples of 43 autistic children and 41 neurotypical children. It was found that autistic children had different active and inactive areas of the brain compared to their neurotypical peers. Also, autistic children were seen to experience more gastrointestinal disturbances compared to neurotypical ones.
Factors that can affect gut and brain health in Autism:
Though a lot of research has been primarily conducted on rats, let us look at some possible factors that can affect gut and brain health in autistic kids:
High levels of S-adenosyl homocysteine: Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were seen to have higher levels of S-adenosyl homocysteine (SAH) compared to neurotypicals. SAH can further exacerbate autism symptoms.
Elevated GABA levels: Individuals with ASD were seen to have elevated GABA levels. High GABA levels are associated with fatigue, muscle weakness, brain fog, altered sleep cycles, reduced motivation, and symptoms similar to depression.
Increased oxidative stress: Children with ASD have lower levels of Glutathione. Glutathione helps in neutralizing free radicals, but since autistic children have lower levels of Glutathione, it can result in increased oxidative stress in them.
Maternal microbiota: During delivery, the baby’s microbiome gets colonized with the mother’s microbiome. If the maternal microbiome is imbalanced due to infections, poor diet, or antibiotic usage, it can alter the baby’s microbiome by increasing the risk of systemic inflammation and exacerbating autism symptoms.
What are some common gut issues faced in autism?
Common gut issues faced by autistic people include abdominal pain, constipation, bloating, diarrhea, bloating, food-based sensitivities, and allergies. These gut-based disturbances can also bring about behavioral changes and further affect the quality of life.
How to improve gut health?
Let us look at some steps to improve gut health.
Include more probiotic-rich foods in the diet. These include foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, curd/yogurt, kefir, tempeh, etc.
Prebiotic foods can act as food for the bacteria in the gut. Some of the prebiotic-rich foods include bananas, berries, garlic, and onions.
Restrict consumption of junk and sugary foods.
Include a variety of seasonal fruits and veggies in the diet.
There needs to be more research on the connection between gut health and autism. The research seems to be promising since good gut health positively impacts the signs of autism.
