Revealing the gut microbiome mystery: A meta-analysis revealing differences between individuals with autism spectrum disorder and neurotypical children.

Han Zhu, Ling Wang, Changjiang Yang, Hongli Xiao, Yijie Du

Journal: Bioscience trends 2024;18(3):233-249

PMID: 38897955

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Plain Language Summary

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder emerging in early childhood, marked by social interaction and communication impairments, repetitive behaviours, and potential comorbidities. This study aimed to analyse the relative abundance of gut microbiota (GM) across 8 phyla and 64 genera within a sample of 1,256 children with ASD and 1,042 neurotypical (NT) children. This research was a meta-analysis of twenty-eight articles. Results showed significant differences in GM composition between children with ASD and NT controls. Children with ASD had higher levels of some genera (e.g. Faecalibacterium, Clostridium, Dorea) and lower levels of others (e.g. Bifidobacterium, Blautia, Odoribacter). These differences remained consistent across studies. Authors concluded that gut dysbiosis may play a meaningful role in the pathophysiology of ASD, highlighting the importance of microbial balance rather than the presence or absence of specific “good” or “bad” bacteria. These findings are clinically relevant for healthcare practitioners, as they highlight the potential for microbiome-focused strategies in the management of ASD.

Abstract

The brain-gut axis intricately links gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis to the development or worsening of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the precise GM composition in ASD and the effectiveness of probiotics are unclear. To address this, we performed a thorough meta-analysis of 28 studies spanning PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, and MEDLINE, involving 1,256 children with ASD and 1042 neurotypical children, up to February 2024. Using Revman 5.3, we analyzed the relative abundance of 8 phyla and 64 genera. While individuals with ASD did not exhibit significant differences in included phyla, they exhibited elevated levels of Parabacteroides, Anaerostipes, Faecalibacterium, Clostridium, Dorea, Phascolarctobacterium, Lachnoclostridium, Catenibacterium, and Collinsella along with reduced percentages of Barnesiella, Odoribacter, Paraprevotella, Blautia, Turicibacter, Lachnospira, Pseudomonas, Parasutterella, Haemophilus, and Bifidobacterium. Notably, discrepancies in Faecalibacterium, Clostridium, Dorea, Phascolarctobacterium, Catenibacterium, Odoribacter, and Bifidobacterium persisted even upon systematic exclusion of individual studies. Consequently, the GM of individuals with ASD demonstrates an imbalance, with potential increases or decreases in both beneficial and harmful bacteria. Therefore, personalized probiotic interventions tailored to ASD specifics are imperative, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Address: Faculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.; Qingpu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shanghai, China.; Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.; The Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China.

DOI: 10.5582/bst.2024.01123