Molecular Characterization of Probiotics and Their Influence on Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are usually unable to express abdominal discomfort properly, and thus gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) are sometimes shadowed by aggression, which is sometimes misunderstood as a behavioral characteristic of ASD. Several studies have reported interesting correlations between the severity of behavioral and gastrointestinal symptoms in ASD children. The present study aimed to investigate the potential effects of probiotics as an adjuvant therapy to modulate the clinical status of ASD children. This study included 40 children with ASD aged 2-5 years. The feeding product was prepared from whey powder (without casein) and some minced cooked yellow vegetables in adequate ratios fortified with the studied probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp.). Bifidobacterium strains were assessed from stool samples of children with ASD. Bifidobacterium strains were analyzed in the stools of ASD children. Recruited ASD patients received 10 g of the nutritional supplement once a day for 3 months. Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADIR) were reevaluated clinically. Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms-Rome III Version was used for all children with ASD before and after. There is a significant increase in the colony counts of both Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp., which present in the stool of ASD children after probiotic supplementation for 3 months. It was highly significant in the case of Bifidobacterium spp. (p value 0.000) and a significant increase in Lactobacillus spp. (p value 0.015). The present study showed reduced anxiety and observation of deep sleep for children with ASD (80%) after taking the supplementation. This indicates that probiotics may have a potential effect in reducing symptoms and severity of ASD and in correcting dysbiosis.
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In a study by Meguid et al. of 40 children with ASD aged 2-5 years, daily administration of a whey-based nutritional supplement fortified with Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. for three months produced significant increases in stool colony counts of Bifidobacterium spp. (p = 0.000) and Lactobacillus spp. (p = 0.015).
“A study by Meguid et al. examined the effects of probiotics as an adjuvant therapy in 40 children with ASD, aged 2–5 years. Participants were administered a whey-based nutritional supplement fortified with Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. daily for three months. The study reported significant increases in stool colony counts of Bifidobacterium spp. (p = 0.000) and Lactobacillus spp. (p”
From The Gut–Brain–Microbiota Connection and Its Role in Autism Spectrum Disorders (2025) · cites this paper as [127]
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- Authors
- Meguid, N. A., Mawgoud, Y. I. A., Bjørklund, G., Mehanne, N. S., Anwar, M., Effat, B. A. E.-K., Chirumbolo, S., & Elrahman, M. M. A.
- Affiliations
- National Research Centre (EG)
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (NO)
- Heliopolis University (EG)
- University of Verona (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Bjørklund, Geir
- Venue
- Molecular Neurobiology
- Published
- 2022-09-01
- Volume
- 59
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 6896-6902
- ISSN
- 0893-7648 (ISSN-L)
- 1559-1182
- OpenAlex
- W4294044011
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 4
- FWCI
- 2.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Molecular Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, probiotics, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, gut microbiota, dysbiosis, gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety, sleep, adjuvant therapy, children
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bifidobacterium, Caseins, Child, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Humans, Powders, Probiotics
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