Prebiotics for Autism: Can They Help?

observational-study PMID: 30071894

Quick Summary: Research suggests that prebiotics, like B-GOS, may improve gut health and even behavior in children with autism. This study found that a specific prebiotic, B-GOS, helped reduce anti-social behaviors and changed gut bacteria in children with autism.

What The Research Found

This study looked at how prebiotics and special diets affect children with autism. Researchers found:

Exclusion Diets: Children on diets that avoided gluten and casein (found in dairy) had fewer tummy troubles. However, their gut bacteria were different.

Prebiotic B-GOS: After taking a prebiotic called B-GOS for 6 weeks, children showed improvements in anti-social behaviors. Their gut bacteria also changed in a positive way.

Study Details

Who was studied: 30 children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

How long: The study lasted 6 weeks.

What they took: Some children were on gluten/casein-free diets. All children were given a prebiotic called Bimuno® galactooligosaccharide (B-GOS®).

What This Means For You

Gut Health Matters: This research supports the idea that gut health is linked to behavior in children with autism.

Prebiotics Could Help: Prebiotics, like B-GOS, might be a helpful addition to a child's diet. Talk to your doctor about whether prebiotics are right for your child.

Dietary Changes: Consider discussing dietary changes, such as gluten and casein-free diets, with your child's doctor to see if they might help with tummy troubles.

Study Limitations

Small Study: The study only included a small number of children, so more research is needed.

More Research Needed: The study didn't compare the prebiotic to a placebo (sugar pill), so we can't be sure the prebiotic alone caused the changes.

Parent Reported: The study relied on parents reporting on their child's behavior and symptoms, which can be subjective.

Key Findings

This study found that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) on exclusion diets (e.g., gluten/casein-free) had reduced gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (abdominal pain, bowel irregularities) but lower levels of Bifidobacterium and Veillonellaceae, and higher Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bacteroides compared to those on unrestricted diets. After a 6-week intervention with Bimuno® galactooligosaccharide (B-GOS®), improvements in anti-social behavior were observed alongside increased Lachnospiraceae abundance and shifts in fecal/urine metabolites. Correlations between gut bacteria and amino acid metabolism were also noted in the exclusion diet group.

Study Design

This observational study enrolled 30 children with ASD, divided into two cohorts: 15 on exclusion diets (gluten/casein-free) and 15 on unrestricted diets. The prebiotic intervention phase involved administering B-GOS to participants for 6 weeks. Gut microbiota composition, GI symptoms, and behavioral traits (via unspecified psychological assessments) were analyzed pre- and post-intervention using fecal samples and parental reports.

Dosage & Administration

The study used Bimuno® galactooligosaccharide (B-GOS®), a prebiotic supplement. Dosage details (e.g., grams per day) and administration method (e.g., oral, mixed with food) were not explicitly provided in the summary.

Results & Efficacy

Exclusion Diet Effects:
Significantly lower GI symptom scores (abdominal pain, bowel movements) in exclusion diet vs. unrestricted group.
Reduced Bifidobacterium and Veillonellaceae abundance, increased Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bacteroides.
Correlations between bacterial populations and fecal amino acids (e.g., Bifidobacterium negatively correlated with tyrosine).
B-GOS Intervention Effects:
Improved anti-social behavior traits (statistical significance noted but exact p-values or effect sizes not provided).
Increased Lachnospiraceae family abundance.
Altered fecal and urine metabolites, suggesting shifts in microbial metabolism.

Limitations

Observational design limits causal inferences; no control group for the prebiotic intervention.
Small sample size (n=30) and short duration (6 weeks) reduce robustness.
GI symptoms and behavior were parent-reported, risking bias.
Lack of detailed demographics (e.g., age, ASD severity) and dosage information for B-GOS.
No placebo comparison or long-term