Dietary Patterns, Not Gut Microbiome Composition, Are Associated with Behavioral Challenges in Children with Autism:...

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Human gut microbiome

Background:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) involves social communication challenges and repetitive behaviors.
• The gut-brain axis is implicated in ASD, but human studies have inconsistent findings.
• Diet and behavior confound microbiome-ASD research.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate gut bacteriome and mycobiome in children with ASD versus siblings and parents.
• Assess dietary intake in ASD and non-ASD individuals.
• Determine the relationship between diet, microbiome, and ASD diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Compared gut microbiome (bacteriome and mycobiome) in ASD children, non-ASD siblings, and parents.
• Collected detailed dietary intake data using 7-day food diaries.
• Utilized multi-kingdom microbiome profiling and statistical analyses.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in gut microbial diversity (α- or β-) were found across ASD, sibling, and parental groups.
• Dietary patterns significantly differed: ASD children consumed more sweets, fewer vegetables, and had lower dietary diversity.
• Statistical analyses indicated dietary factors, not microbial composition, explained ASD diagnosis variations.

Conclusions:

• Selective eating behaviors in ASD shape dietary intake, influencing gut microbial diversity.
• The directionality in humans appears to be behavior -> diet -> microbiome.
• Highlights the need to include dietary variables in microbiome research and consider nutritional interventions for ASD.