Food, gut barrier dysfunction, and related diseases: A new target for future individualized disease prevention and management

Impact of Gluten-Free and Casein-Free Diet on Behavioural Outcomes and Quality of Life of Autistic Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Gluten- and casein-containing foods could aggravate the symptoms of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and subsequently impact their quality of life. However, there is a mixed opinion among researchers concerning the impact of alternative diet on reducing ASD symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aimed at examining the impact of the "gluten-free, casein-free" (GFCF) diet on health outcomes and the quality of life among autistic children and adolescents.

METHODS

A scoping review of the literature was performed following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Four databases, including EbscoHost, Medline, CINAHL, and ProQuest, were used to obtain subject-specific studies relevant to the research question and published between July 2013 and March 2024. A comprehensive search using keywords such as "autism spectrum disorder", "gluten-free diet", and "casein-free diet" was conducted to obtain articles related to the research focus area. Only full-text, peer-reviewed, written in English articles were selected. Data extraction and data analysis were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-extension to Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) protocol.

RESULTS

From the initial 586 studies, a total of 27 articles were included in the final analysis of the review. The thematic analysis included "GFCF diet and improvement of the core autistic symptoms", "the gut-brain link", "dietary interventions and autism", "possible side effects due to the GCFC diet", and "inconclusive studies and mixed opinions". A majority of the studies showed a positive effect of the GFCF diet on a variety of autistic symptoms, including positive changes in cognitive skills, behaviour, and gastrointestinal symptoms, while some showed conflicting evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

The currently available evidence on the impact of the "GFCF" diet on the quality of life of autistic children and adolescents may warrant potentially effective interventions for alleviating symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. However, this scoping review highlights the need for more research to provide more reliable evidence on the health outcomes and quality of life of ASD sufferers to guide practice.

Food for thought: Making the case for food produced via regenerative agriculture in the battle against non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs)

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a global health challenge, leading to substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic strain. Our review underscores the escalating incidence of NCDs worldwide and highlights the potential of regenerative agriculture (RA) products in mitigating these diseases. We also explore the efficacy of dietary interventions in NCD management and prevention, emphasizing the superiority of plant-based diets over those high in processed foods and red meat. Examining the role of the gut microbiome in various diseases, including liver disorders, allergies, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer, we find compelling evidence implicating its influence on disease development. Notably, dietary modifications can positively affect the gut microbiome, fostering a symbiotic relationship with the host and making this a critical strategy in disease prevention and treatment. Investigating agricultural practices, we identify parallels between soil/plant and human microbiome studies, suggesting a crucial link between soil health, plant- and animal-derived food quality, and human well-being. Conventional/Industrial agriculture (IA) practices, characterized in part by use of chemical inputs, have adverse effects on soil microbiome diversity, food quality, and ecosystems. In contrast, RA prioritizes soil health through natural processes, and includes avoiding synthetic inputs, crop rotation, and integrating livestock. Emerging evidence suggests that food from RA systems surpasses IA-produced food in quality and nutritional value. Recognizing the interconnection between human, plant, and soil microbiomes, promoting RA-produced foods emerges as a strategy to improve human health and environmental sustainability. By mitigating climate change impacts through carbon sequestration and water cycling, RA offers dual benefits for human and planetary health and well-being. Emphasizing the pivotal role of diet and agricultural practices in combating NCDs and addressing environmental concerns, the adoption of regional RA systems becomes imperative. Increasing RA integration into local food systems can enhance food quality, availability, and affordability while safeguarding human health and the planet's future.

Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and Sleep Disorders: Culprit in Cardiovascular Diseases

Background: Over the past decade, the gut microbiome (GM) has progressively demonstrated to have a central role in human metabolism, immunity, and cardiometabolic risk. Likewise, sleep disorders showed an impact on individual health and cardiometabolic risk. Recent studies seem to suggest multi-directional relations among GM, diet, sleep, and cardiometabolic risk, though specific interactions are not fully elucidated. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize the currently available evidence on the potential interactions between sleep and GM and their possible implications on cardiometabolic risk. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, including articles from January 2016 until November 2022. Narrative syntheses were employed to describe the results. Results: A total of 8 studies were selected according to these criteria. Our findings indicated that the sleep disorder and/or the acute circadian rhythm disturbance caused by sleep-wake shifts affected the human GM, mainly throughout microbial functionality. Conclusions: Sleep disorders should be viewed as cardiovascular risk factors and targeted for preventive intervention. More research and well-designed studies are needed to completely assess the role of sleep deprivation in the multi-directional relationship between GM and cardiometabolic risk.

The Contribution of the Intestinal Microbiota to the Celiac Disease Pathogenesis along with the Effectiveness of Probiotic Therapy

The development of many human disorders, including celiac disease (CD), is thought to be influenced by the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract and its metabolites, according to current research. This study's goal was to provide a concise summary of the information on the contribution of the intestinal microbiota to the CD pathogenesis, which was actively addressed while examining the reported pathogenesis of celiac disease (CD). We assumed that a change in gluten tolerance is formed under the influence of a number of different factors, including genetic predisposition and environmental factors. In related investigations, researchers have paid increasing attention to the study of disturbances in the composition of the intestinal microbiota and its functional activity in CD. A key finding of our review is that the intestinal microbiota has gluten-degrading properties, which, in turn, may have a protective effect on the development of CD. The intestinal microbiota contributes to maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier, preventing the formation of a "leaky" intestine. On the contrary, a change in the composition of the microbiota can act as a significant link in the pathogenesis of gluten intolerance and exacerbate the course of the disease. The possibility of modulating the composition of the microbiota by prescribing probiotic preparations is being considered. The effectiveness of the use of probiotics containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium bacteria in experimental and clinical studies as a preventive and therapeutic agent has been documented.

Effects of Walnut and Pumpkin on Selective Neurophenotypes of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Case Study

Special diets or nutritional supplements are regularly given to treat children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The increased consumption of particular foods has been demonstrated in numerous trials to lessen autism-related symptoms and comorbidities. A case study on a boy with moderate autism who significantly improved after three years of following a healthy diet consisting of pumpkin and walnuts was examined in this review in connection to a few different neurophenotypes of ASD. We are able to suggest that a diet high in pumpkin and walnuts was useful in improving the clinical presentation of the ASD case evaluated by reducing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, glutamate excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered gut microbiota, all of which are etiological variables. Using illustrated figures, a full description of the ways by which a diet high in pumpkin and nuts could assist the included case is offered.

The Benefits of Prebiotics and Probiotics on Mental Health

In individuals with depression and anxiety, the composition or alteration of their gut microbiota can significantly affect their psychological symptoms. Articles for this study were selected using PubMed and NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) with the following search terms: "gut microbiota," "depression," "anxiety," "probiotics," and "prebiotics." These studies evaluated the composition of the gut microbiota and the decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety due to treatment with probiotics and prebiotics. Only papers published after 2015 were included. There was a significant relationship between the composition and alteration of the gut microbiota and the presence or variation of symptoms of depression and anxiety. Treatment with probiotics or prebiotics improved the symptoms of these mental health conditions. This literature review examines how different prebiotics and probiotics affect mental health and how altering individuals' gut microbiota correlates with depression and anxiety. Treatment with probiotics or prebiotics may decrease the severity of these mental disorders by altering the gut microbiota.