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Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis as a Potential Risk Factor for Idiopathic Toe-Walking in Children: A Review

Svetlana Kononova1, Mikhail Kashparov2,3, Wenyu Xue4

  • 1Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|September 9, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Idiopathic toe walking (ITW) may be linked to gut microbiome imbalances affecting neurotransmitter production. Further research into this gut-brain axis connection could reveal new treatment strategies for ITW.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiome Research

Background:

  • Idiopathic toe walking (ITW) affects approximately 5% of children, presenting complex orthopedic challenges due to unknown causes.
  • Current treatments for ITW yield inconsistent results, highlighting the need for novel etiological insights.
  • Emerging evidence suggests genetic factors and sensorimotor impairments in some children with ITW.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential link between gut microbiome alterations and idiopathic toe walking (ITW).
  • To propose a theoretical framework connecting gut dysbiosis, neurotransmitter imbalance, and sensorimotor dysfunction in ITW.
  • To advocate for further investigation into the microbiome's role in ITW etiology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing studies on pathologies involving sensorimotor dysfunction and intestinal dysbiosis.
  • Theoretical substantiation of the hypothesis that gut microbiota metabolites influence neurotransmitter production.
  • Analysis of the potential connection between microbiome variations and toe walking (TW).

Main Results:

  • Sensorimotor dysfunction in ITW may stem from imbalanced neurotransmitter production.
  • Gut dysbiosis and its metabolites could be a contributing factor to neurotransmitter malfunction.
  • A theoretical link is proposed between gut microbiome alterations and the development of ITW.

Conclusions:

  • The gut microbiome represents a promising, yet under-explored, area for understanding ITW etiology.
  • Investigating the gut-brain axis in ITW could uncover novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
  • Further research is warranted to validate the proposed connection between microbiome variations and ITW.

Keywords:
gut microbiota dysbiosisidiopathic toe walkingmicrobiota–gut–brain axisneurotransmitter dysbalancesensory–motor dysfunction

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