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Cited by 369Gut microbiota and healthGastrointestinal motility and disordersAutism Spectrum Disorder Research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 73 of the 73 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

A prebiotic intervention study in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)

Open access
Grimaldi, Roberta, Gibson, Glenn R., Vulevic, Jelena, Giallourou, Natasa, Castro-Mejía, Josué L., Hansen, Lars H., Leigh Gibson, E., Nielsen, Dennis S., Costabile, Adele·2018·Microbiome
DOI 10.1186/s40168-018-0523-3PMC PMC6091020
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Different dietary approaches, such as gluten and casein free diets, or the use of probiotics and prebiotics have been suggested in autistic spectrum disorders in order to reduce gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances. GI symptoms are of particular interest in this population due to prevalence and correlation with the severity of behavioural traits. Nowadays, there is lack of strong evidence about the effect of dietary interventions on these problems, particularly prebiotics. Therefore, we assessed the impact of exclusion diets and a 6-week Bimuno® galactooligosaccharide (B-GOS®) prebiotic intervention in 30 autistic children. RESULTS: The results showed that children on exclusion diets reported significantly lower scores of abdominal pain and bowel movement, as well as lower abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. and Veillonellaceae family, but higher presence of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bacteroides spp. In addition, significant correlations were found between bacterial populations and faecal amino acids in this group, compared to children following an unrestricted diet. Following B-GOS® intervention, we observed improvements in anti-social behaviour, significant increase of Lachnospiraceae family, and significant changes in faecal and urine metabolites. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study where the effect of exclusion diets and prebiotics has been evaluated in autism, showing potential beneficial effects. A combined dietary approach resulted in significant changes in gut microbiota composition and metabolism suggesting that multiple interventions might be more relevant for the improvement of these aspects as well as psychological traits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02720900 ; registered in November 2015.

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Crossref · 10.1186/s40168-018-0523-3

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Fig. 1 GI symptom assessment during 3 weeks baseline data collection. S exclusion diets; N unrestricted diet; *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001
Fig. 1 GI symptom assessment during 3 weeks baseline data collection. S exclusion diets; N unrestricted diet; *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 a ATEC questionnaire. Results showed consistent reduction over time in anti-sociability score in children on the combination of the exclusion diet and B-GOS intervention, with the most apparent difference occurring at follow-up (time × diet × treatment interaction, p = 0.05; adjusted for age). Placebo:Maltodextrin. b AQ questionnaire. After intervention and including follow-up, social skills were improved (i.e. scores were lower) by B-GOS treatment in children on the exclusion diet only (diet × treatment interaction, P < 0.05). Results were reported as estimated marginal means ± standard error (SE). NB, post-hoc comparisons are not valid where covariates are included
Fig. 2 a ATEC questionnaire. Results showed consistent reduction over time in anti-sociability score in children on the combination of the exclusion diet and B-GOS intervention, with the most apparent difference occurring at follow-up (time × diet × treatment interaction, p = 0.05; adjusted for age). Placebo:Maltodextrin. b AQ questionnaire. After intervention and including follow-up, social skills were improved (i.e. scores were lower) by B-GOS treatment in children on the exclusion diet only (diet × treatment interaction, P < 0.05). Results were reported as estimated marginal means ± standard error (SE). NB, post-hoc comparisons are not valid where covariates are includedCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 3 a PCA plot showing differences in microbial genera based on diet as determined by RDA analysis. b PCA plot displaying differences in microbial genera after B-GOS treatment in un-restricted diet group as determined by RDA analysis. Blue dots: after B-GOS® intervention; pink dots: before B-GOS® intervention. X displays the loading positions of the most discriminative bacterial genera
Fig. 3 a PCA plot showing differences in microbial genera based on diet as determined by RDA analysis. b PCA plot displaying differences in microbial genera after B-GOS treatment in un-restricted diet group as determined by RDA analysis. Blue dots: after B-GOS® intervention; pink dots: before B-GOS® intervention. X displays the loading positions of the most discriminative bacterial generaCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 4 Summary of the correlation between bacterial changes and metabolic variation in faecal samples of children following exclusion diet a and those in un-restricted diet b. OUTs: bacterial groups. Arrows: metabolites identified; Squares: bacteria involved in the metabolic pathway. OTU001: Bifidobacterium spp.; OUT002: Bifidobacterium longum; OTU003: Coriobacteriaceae; OTU004: Eggerthella lenta; OTU005: Bacteroides spp.; OTU006: B. fragilis; OTU007: B. ovatus; OTU008: B. uniformis; OTU009: Rikenellaceae spp.; OTU010: Lactococcus spp.; OTU011: Streptococcus arginosus; OTU012: Clostridiales; OUT013: Clostridiaceae; OTU014: Dehalobacterium spp.; OTU015: Roseburia spp., OTU016: F. prausnitzii; OTU017: Coprobacillus spp.; OTU018: Akkermansia muciphila
Fig. 4 Summary of the correlation between bacterial changes and metabolic variation in faecal samples of children following exclusion diet a and those in un-restricted diet b. OUTs: bacterial groups. Arrows: metabolites identified; Squares: bacteria involved in the metabolic pathway. OTU001: Bifidobacterium spp.; OUT002: Bifidobacterium longum; OTU003: Coriobacteriaceae; OTU004: Eggerthella lenta; OTU005: Bacteroides spp.; OTU006: B. fragilis; OTU007: B. ovatus; OTU008: B. uniformis; OTU009: Rikenellaceae spp.; OTU010: Lactococcus spp.; OTU011: Streptococcus arginosus; OTU012: Clostridiales; OUT013: Clostridiaceae; OTU014: Dehalobacterium spp.; OTU015: Roseburia spp., OTU016: F. prausnitzii; OTU017: Coprobacillus spp.; OTU018: Akkermansia muciphilaCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 5 Study information. a Flow of participants through the study. b Study design
Fig. 5 Study information. a Flow of participants through the study. b Study designCC BY · PubMed Central

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Metadata

Authors
Grimaldi, R., Gibson, G. R., Vulevic, J., Giallourou, N., Castro-Mejía, J. L., Hansen, L. H., Leigh Gibson, E., Nielsen, D. S., & Costabile, A.
Affiliations
  • Clasado BioSciences (United Kingdom) (GB)
  • University of Reading (GB)
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Aarhus University (DK)
  • University of Roehampton (GB)
Corresponding author
Grimaldi, Roberta
ORCID
Venue
Microbiome
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2018-08-02
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
133-133
ISSN
2049-2618 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s40168-018-0523-3
PMC
PMC6091020
OpenAlex
W2887688374
Cited by
369
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 58 · 2022: 60 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 3
FWCI
11.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Microbiome (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • CentAUR (University of Reading) (acceptedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Spiral (Imperial College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, prebiotics, galactooligosaccharides, elimination diet, gluten-free diet, casein-free diet, gut microbiota, gastrointestinal symptoms, abdominal pain, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Bifidobacterium, urinary metabolites, antisocial behavior, children
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bacteria, Child, Child, Preschool, Double-Blind Method, Feces, Female, Humans, Male, Urine, Gastrointestinal Tract, Prebiotics

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