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Effect of maternal diet on gut bacteria and autism spectrum disorder in offspring
Zilin Chen1, Xu Wang2, Yuchen Hu1
1Department of Pediatrics, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Insights
Maternal diet impacts gut bacteria, potentially increasing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk in offspring. Strategies focusing on maternal gut health may help prevent ASD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with unknown causes.
- The gut microbiome is crucial for neurodevelopment and host health.
- Maternal gut dysbiosis may influence offspring's ASD risk via the gut-placental and gut-brain axes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of maternal dietary habits on gut bacteria.
- To explore mechanisms linking gut microbiota alterations to ASD.
- To propose dietary strategies for ASD prevention.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on maternal diet, gut microbiota, and ASD.
- Analysis of the gut-placental axis and breastfeeding in microbial transmission.
- Exploration of immune, neurotransmitter, and metabolite pathways.
Main Results:
- Poor maternal diets (high sugar/salt/fat, low fiber, ultra-processed foods, alcohol) negatively affect gut bacteria.
- Gut microbiota dysregulation can impact the immune system, neurotransmitters, and metabolites.
- These disruptions are implicated in increasing the risk of ASD in offspring.
Conclusions:
- Maternal gut bacteria composition is a potential factor in ASD development.
- Dietary interventions targeting maternal gut health may offer a preventative approach for ASD.
- Further research into the microbial-gut-brain axis in ASD is warranted.
Abstract:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests in early childhood, with its specific causes and pathogenesis remaining incompletely understood. The gut bacteria plays a pivotal role in host health and neurodevelopment. Maternal eating disorders may disrupt maternal gut bacteria and subsequently influence fetal and neonatal gut bacteria through the gut-placental axis and breastfeeding. This disruption can ultimately impact the microbial-gut-brain axis, the immune system, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and metabolite abnormalities, thereby increasing the risk of ASD in offspring. This paper reviews the adverse effects of bad maternal dietary habits, including high-sugar, high-salt, high-fat diets, alcohol consumption, dietary fiber deficiency, and the intake of ultra-processed foods, on the gut bacteria. It also explores the mechanisms by which gut microbiota disorder may induce ASD through the immune system, neurotransmitters, and metabolites. Additionally, the article proposes potential strategies to prevent ASD by adjusting dietary structures and enhancing gut bacteria health.
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