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Food and the gut: relevance to some of the autisms.
- Source :
-
The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society [Proc Nutr Soc] 2017 Nov; Vol. 76 (4), pp. 478-483. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Sep 26. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Complex, diverse and rarely appearing without comorbidity, the autism spectrum disorders continue to be a source of research interest. With core symptoms variably impacting on social communication skills, the traditional focus of many research efforts has centred on the brain and how genetic and environmental processes impact on brain structure, function and/or connectivity to account for various behavioural presentations. Alongside emerging ideas on autistic traits being present in various clinical states, the autisms, and the overrepresentation of several comorbid conditions impacting on quality of life, other research avenues have opened up. The central role of the brain in relation to autism may be at least partially influenced by the functions of other organs. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract represents an important biological system pertinent to at least some autism. The notion of a gut-brain-behaviour axis has garnered support from various findings: an overrepresentation of functional and pathological bowel states, bowel and behavioural findings showing bidirectional associations, a possible relationship between diet, GI function and autism and recently, greater focus on aspects of the GI tract such as the collected gut microbiota in relation to autism. Gaps remain in our knowledge of the functions of the GI tract linked to autism, specifically regarding mechanisms of action onward to behavioural presentation. Set however within the context of diversity in the presentation of autism, science appears to be moving towards defining important GI-related autism phenotypes with the possibility of promising dietary and other related intervention options onward to improving quality of life.
- Subjects :
- Autistic Disorder microbiology
Autistic Disorder physiopathology
Brain physiopathology
Gastrointestinal Diseases microbiology
Gastrointestinal Diseases physiopathology
Gastrointestinal Microbiome physiology
Gastrointestinal Tract physiopathology
Humans
Intestines microbiology
Autistic Disorder etiology
Diet adverse effects
Food adverse effects
Gastrointestinal Diseases complications
Intestines physiopathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1475-2719
- Volume :
- 76
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 28946927
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665117002798