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Intestinal Metabolome for Diagnosing and Prognosing Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children: A Systematic Review
Andrés Suárez-Jaramillo1, Sara G Cifuentes1, Manuel Baldeón2,3
1Institute of Microbiology, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador.
Insights
Researchers identified specific gut metabolites in children that may help diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and predict its progression. This review highlights potential biomarkers for earlier intervention and personalized treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Metabolomics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis currently relies on behavioral observations, leading to delayed identification.
- Prognostic markers are crucial for tailored therapies and progress monitoring in ASD.
- No established biomarkers currently exist for ASD diagnosis or prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review studies on the intestinal metabolome in children with and without ASD.
- To identify potential metabolites for the diagnosis and prognosis of ASD.
- To explore the link between gut metabolites and ASD characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search across major databases (Medline, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science).
- Inclusion of 11 high-quality studies focusing on the gut metabolome in children.
- Analysis of identified metabolites and their association with developmental scores and symptoms.
Main Results:
- Eleven studies revealed distinct gut metabolome profiles differentiating autistic from non-autistic children.
- Identified metabolites are linked to key metabolic pathways: amino acids, vitamins, lipids, oxidative stress, glycans, xenobiotics, and nucleotides.
- Gut metabolites showed correlations with developmental scores and ASD symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Metabolic alterations in the gut may be associated with the etiology or pathogenesis of ASD.
- The identified substances show promise as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for ASD.
- Further high-quality research is necessary to validate these findings and confirm biomarker utility.
Abstract:
Background/Objectives: Currently, the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) relies on behavioral observations, frequently causing delays in early identification. Prognostic markers are essential for customizing therapy and monitoring progress. However, there are currently no recognized biomarkers for ASD. The current systematic review aims to analyze studies on the intestinal metabolome in children (both autistic and non-autistic) to identify potential metabolites for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Methods: We searched Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science for relevant publications. Results: We identified 11 studies examining the gut metabolome that distinguished between autistic and non-autistic children. These studies also revealed connections between gut metabolites, developmental scores, and symptoms. The substances identified were associated with metabolic pathways such as amino acids, vitamins, lipids, oxidative stress, glycans, xenobiotics, and nucleotides. Conclusions: These findings suggest metabolic changes that may be linked to the causes or development of autism. Although these observations came from a few reports, only high-quality studies were included in this review. Further research is essential to confirm the identified substances as biomarkers.
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