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Abnormal intestinal permeability in children with autism
P D'Eufemia1, M Celli, R Finocchiaro
1Institute of Pediatrics, La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Insights
Researchers found increased intestinal permeability in 43% of autistic children, suggesting a potential link between gut health and autism. This gut mucosal damage may allow increased peptide passage, possibly affecting behavior.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
- The role of gastrointestinal (GI) issues in ASD is an area of ongoing research.
- Intestinal permeability, or 'leaky gut,' is a condition where the gut lining allows substances to pass through more easily.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of gut mucosal damage in children with autism.
- To assess intestinal permeability in autistic children without pre-existing gastrointestinal disorders.
- To explore potential correlations between altered gut permeability and autism.
Main Methods:
- Intestinal permeability testing was performed on 21 children diagnosed with autism.
- Participants had no clinical or laboratory evidence of known intestinal disorders.
- A control group of 40 typically developing children was included for comparison.
Main Results:
- Altered intestinal permeability was detected in 9 out of 21 (43%) autistic children.
- None of the 40 control participants exhibited altered intestinal permeability.
- Autistic patients with altered permeability showed significantly higher lactulose recovery compared to controls (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of autistic children may experience gut mucosal damage.
- Altered intestinal permeability could be a contributing factor in autism.
- This may facilitate increased passage of food-derived peptides, potentially influencing behavioral abnormalities.
Abstract:
We determined the occurrence of gut mucosal damage using the intestinal permeability test in 21 autistic children who had no clinical and laboratory findings consistent with known intestinal disorders. An altered intestinal permeability was found in 9 of the 21 (43%) autistic patients, but in none of the 40 controls. Compared to the controls, these nine patients showed a similar mean mannitol recovery, but a significantly higher mean lactulose recovery (1.64% +/- 1.43 vs 0.38% +/- 0.14; P < 0.001). We speculate that an altered intestinal permeability could represent a possible mechanism for the increased passage through the gut mucosa of peptides derived from foods with subsequent behavioural abnormalities.