Autism and gastrointestinal symptoms
Abstract
Autism is a collection of behavioral symptoms characterized by dysfunction in social interaction and communication in affected children. It is typically associated with restrictive, repetitive, and stereotypic behavior and manifests within the first 3 years of life. The cause of this disorder is not known. Over the past decade, a significant upswing in research has occurred to examine the biologic basis of autism. Recent clinical studies have revealed a high prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms, inflammation, and dysfunction in children with autism. Mild to moderate degrees of inflammation were found in both the upper and lower intestinal tract. In addition, decreased sulfation capacity of the liver, pathologic intestinal permeability, increased secretory response to intravenous secretin injection, and decreased digestive enzyme activities were reported in many children with autism. Treatment of digestive problems appears to have positive effects on autistic behavior. These new observations represent only a piece of the unsolved autism "puzzle" and should stimulate more research into the brain-gut connection.
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Co-occurring internalizing symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, are common in ASD and associated with GI symptoms.
“Consistent with the theory that stress is linked to GI symptoms in ASD, co-occurring internalizing symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, are common in ASD (15) and associated with GI symptoms as well.”
From The Relationship Among Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Problem Behaviors, and Internalizing Symptoms in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (2019) · cites this paper as [15]
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- Authors
- Horvath, K., & Perman, J. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, Baltimore (US)
- Venue
- Current Gastroenterology Reports
- Published
- 2002-06
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 251-258
- ISSN
- 1522-8037 (ISSN-L)
- 1534-312X
- OpenAlex
- W2030462908
- Cited by
- 260
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 0.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Current Gastroenterology Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, gastrointestinal symptoms, intestinal inflammation, intestinal permeability, secretin, digestive enzymes, gut-brain axis, autistic behavior, children
- MeSH terms
- Acetaminophen, Autistic Disorder, Child, Gastritis, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Intestines, Liver, Liver Function Tests, Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter Infections
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