Bacteriology of autism

Probiotics produce neurochemicals, and current studies are investigating the ability of probiotics to significantly impact psychological states. A recent study conducted on mice, showed that the presence of neurochemicals such as serotonin in the blood stream, was due to direct uptake by the gut. Neurochemicals produced in the gut by Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria are actively absorbed into the intestinal tract and circulated through the blood stream. (Those of you who have read the Healthy Gut Guide may recall chapter 3 on the gut–brain connection, discussing the enteric nervous system and the gut being our second brain.)

The gut-bacteria brain link is at the forefront of neuromicrobiological research (Prof Mark Lyte leading the way), and
there is currently an increased research focus on both diet and bacteria.

Wheat and dairy are known to worsen both the GIT inflammatory symptoms present in autistic children, as well as neurological symptoms. American researchers have also found evidence of raised free radical production, decreased detoxifying agents, primarily glutathione, antioxidant metal binding proteins and deficiencies in brain methylation pathways in autism.

Research has also confirmed that in autism, gastrointestinal inflammation is often mild to moderate in the upper and
lower intestines, there is dysbiosis, abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation with or without diahrroea. There is some
degree of liver detoxification dysfunction, pathogenic intestinal permeability and a reduction of digestive enzymes in adults. Improvement to digestive dysfunction correlates with autistic behaviour improvements. Furthermore, inflammatory processes in autistic infants’ brains have been discovered, suggesting autistic children have enlarged brain size especially in the first few years of life.

Nutrient considerations

Probiotic therapy is essential given the above research, as is glutamine for gut repair. Essential fatty acids such as Omega-3 are a must, as studies consistently confirm low plasma phospholipids in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). B vitamins also need to be considered particularly pyridoxal kinase and pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP), the active form of B6 as levels have been found to be abnormally low in autistic children. There are 113 enzymatic reactions that rely on PLP, many of which are key neurotransmitter forming reactions.

N-acetyl cysteine must also be included due to its potency as a precursor to glutathione production, the major player
in hepatic (liver) detox pathways. Taurine has been found to be the most depleted amino acid in the urine of autistic
children. Taurine is the brain’s inhibitory neurotransmitter which suppresses vasopressin This is highly significant as
GIT inflammation, stress and hypoglycaemia, common events in autistic children, trigger the release of vasopressin.