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Modulation of Gut Microbiome and Autism Symptoms of ASD Children Supplemented with Biological Response Modifier: A
Jela Hrnciarova1,2, Klara Kubelkova3, Vanda Bostik3
1Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 500 03 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
Insights
This study shows that the biological modifier Juvenil can alter the gut microbiome in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), moving it toward a healthier state and improving core symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) etiology and mechanisms remain unclear.
- Current treatments offer limited improvement for core ASD symptoms.
- Emerging evidence links ASD to gut dysbiosis, suggesting microbiota modulation as a therapeutic avenue.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of Juvenil, a biological response modifier, in modulating the gut microbiome of children with ASD.
- To determine if Juvenil supplementation alleviates core symptoms in children with ASD.
- To investigate the impact of Juvenil on the gut microbiome composition in ASD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot study.
- Inclusion of 20 children with ASD and 12 neurotypical children.
- Three-month supplementation period with Juvenil for ASD group.
- Analysis of stool samples to compare microbiome composition before and after intervention.
Main Results:
- Significant differences observed in the gut microbiome composition between children with ASD and healthy controls.
- Juvenil supplementation successfully shifted the microbiome of ASD children towards a neurotypical profile.
- This microbiome modulation was associated with positive changes in ASD symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiome dysbiosis is a feature of ASD.
- Juvenil shows potential as a therapeutic agent for ASD by targeting gut microbiota.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore clinical applications.
Abstract:
The etiology and mechanisms of autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not yet fully understood. There is currently no treatment for ASD for providing significant improvement in core symptoms. Recent studies suggest, however, that ASD is associated with gut dysbiosis, indicating that modulation of gut microbiota in children with ASD may thus reduce the manifestation of ASD symptoms. The aim of this pilot study (prospective randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled) was to evaluate efficacy of the biological response modifier Juvenil in modulating the microbiome of children with ASD and, in particular, whether Juvenil is able to alleviate the symptoms of ASD. In total, 20 children with ASD and 12 neurotypical children were included in our study. Supplementation of ASD children lasted for three months. To confirm Juvenil's impact on the gut microbiome, stool samples were collected from all children and the microbiome's composition was analyzed. This pilot study demonstrated that the gut microbiome of ASD children differed significantly from that of healthy controls and was converted by Juvenil supplementation toward a more neurotypical microbiome that positively modulated children's autism symptoms.
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