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Effect of probiotics on children with autism spectrum disorders: a meta-analysis

Ping Zeng1,2,3, Cheng-Zhi Zhang1,2,3, Zhi-Xing Fan1,2,3

  • 1Department of Cardiology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University & Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang, 443003, China.

Italian Journal of Pediatrics
|June 20, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Probiotics may improve gut health in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but this meta-analysis found no significant improvements in core ASD symptoms or behaviors. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Microbiome Research

Background:

  • Alterations in gut microbiota are increasingly linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) development.
  • The efficacy of probiotic supplementation for ASD remains a subject of ongoing debate and research.
  • This meta-analysis investigates the impact of probiotics on ASD children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically evaluate the outcomes of probiotic supplementation in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • To determine if probiotics offer a beneficial effect on ASD symptoms and related behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase) up to September 2022.
  • Included were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing probiotics to placebo in ASD children.
  • Outcomes assessed included behavioral scales (ABC, CBCL), social responsiveness (SRS), developmental quotient (DQ), overall improvement (CGI-I), and gastrointestinal severity (6-GSI).

Main Results:

  • Six RCTs involving 302 children were analyzed.
  • Probiotic use led to a statistically significant reduction in the 6-item Gastrointestinal Severity Index (6-GSI).
  • No significant differences were observed in behavioral measures (ABC, CBCL), social responsiveness (SRS), developmental quotient (DQ), or overall clinical improvement (CGI-I) between probiotic and placebo groups.

Conclusions:

  • Probiotic supplementation demonstrates potential in alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms in children with ASD.
  • Current evidence does not support a significant improvement in core autism spectrum disorder symptoms or behaviors with probiotic use.
  • Further investigation is warranted to fully understand the role of probiotics in managing ASD.
Abstract

Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)GastrointestinalMeta-analysisProbioticsSeverity

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