Probiotics show promise in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, finds study
In a recent study , researchers have highlighted that probiotics can be beneficial for the neurological development in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Findings have been published in Frontiers In Psychiatry.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent social and communication difficulties along with restricted and repetitive interests and activities.
In recent years, neuroscience research has focused on the role of the microbiota-brain-gut axis in the etiopathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders including ASD, thus providing interesting targets for novel psychotropic development (2–8). The gut microbiota can impact brain function, both directly and indirectly, through the production of neurotransmitters, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)and key dietary amino acids and their metabolites, as well as through the activation of the immune system that, in turn,could act through inflammatory cytokines and chemokines,such as IL-6 and TNF-a.
With this background, researchers evaluated the effects of probiotics on autism in a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 85 preschoolers with ASD (mean age, 4.2 years; 84% boys). Participants were randomly assigned to probiotics (DeSimone Formulation) (n=42) or placebo (n=43) for six months. Sixty-three (74%) children completed the trial.
On data analysis, the following facts emerged.
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