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Maitin-Shepard M, O'Tierney-Ginn P, Kraneveld AD, Lyall K, Fallin D, Arora M, Fasano A, Mueller NT, Wang X, Caulfield LE, Dickerson AS, Diaz Heijtz R, Tarui T, Blumberg JB, Holingue C, Schmidt RJ, Garssen J, Almendinger K, Lin PID, Mozaffarian D. Food, nutrition, and autism: from soil to fork. Am J Clin Nutr 2024; 120:240-256. [PMID: 38677518 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Food and nutrition-related factors have the potential to impact development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and quality of life for people with ASD, but gaps in evidence exist. On 10 November 2022, Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and Food and Nutrition Innovation Institute hosted a 1-d meeting to explore the evidence and evidence gaps regarding the relationships of food and nutrition with ASD. This meeting report summarizes the presentations and deliberations from the meeting. Topics addressed included prenatal and child dietary intake, the microbiome, obesity, food-related environmental exposures, mechanisms and biological processes linking these factors and ASD, food-related social factors, and data sources for future research. Presentations highlighted evidence for protective associations with prenatal folic acid supplementation and ASD development, increases in risk of ASD with maternal gestational obesity, and the potential for exposure to environmental contaminants in foods and food packaging to influence ASD development. The importance of the maternal and child microbiome in ASD development or ASD-related behaviors in the child was reviewed, as was the role of discrimination in leading to disparities in environmental exposures and psychosocial factors that may influence ASD. The role of child diet and high prevalence of food selectivity in children with ASD and its association with adverse outcomes were also discussed. Priority evidence gaps identified by participants include further clarifying ASD development, including biomarkers and key mechanisms; interactions among psychosocial, social, and biological determinants; interventions addressing diet, supplementation, and the microbiome to prevent and improve quality of life for people with ASD; and mechanisms of action of diet-related factors associated with ASD. Participants developed research proposals to address the priority evidence gaps. The workshop findings serve as a foundation for future prioritization of scientific research to address evidence gaps related to food, nutrition, and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aletta D Kraneveld
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kristen Lyall
- AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Daniele Fallin
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Manish Arora
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alessio Fasano
- Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Noel T Mueller
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Laura E Caulfield
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Aisha S Dickerson
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Tomo Tarui
- Department of Pediatrics, Hasbro Children's Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Jeffrey B Blumberg
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Calliope Holingue
- Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation, Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rebecca J Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, the MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Johan Garssen
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Katherine Almendinger
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Pi-I Debby Lin
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dariush Mozaffarian
- Food is Medicine Institute, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States.
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2
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Malesci R, Lombardi M, Abenante V, Fratestefano F, Del Vecchio V, Fetoni AR, Troisi J. A Systematic Review on Metabolomics Analysis in Hearing Impairment: Is It a Possible Tool in Understanding Auditory Pathologies? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15188. [PMID: 37894867 PMCID: PMC10607298 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
With more than 466 million people affected, hearing loss represents the most common sensory pathology worldwide. Despite its widespread occurrence, much remains to be explored, particularly concerning the intricate pathogenic mechanisms underlying its diverse phenotypes. In this context, metabolomics emerges as a promising approach. Indeed, lying downstream from molecular biology's central dogma, the metabolome reflects both genetic traits and environmental influences. Furthermore, its dynamic nature facilitates well-defined changes during disease states, making metabolomic analysis a unique lens into the mechanisms underpinning various hearing impairment forms. Hence, these investigations may pave the way for improved diagnostic strategies, personalized interventions and targeted treatments, ultimately enhancing the clinical management of affected individuals. In this comprehensive review, we discuss findings from 20 original articles, including human and animal studies. Existing literature highlights specific metabolic changes associated with hearing loss and ototoxicity of certain compounds. Nevertheless, numerous critical issues have emerged from the study of the current state of the art, with the lack of standardization of methods, significant heterogeneity in the studies and often small sample sizes being the main limiting factors for the reliability of these findings. Therefore, these results should serve as a stepping stone for future research aimed at addressing the aforementioned challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Malesci
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry (Audiology and Vestibology Service), University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy; (V.D.V.); (A.R.F.)
| | - Martina Lombardi
- Theoreo srl, Spin off Company of the University of Salerno, Via Degli Ulivi 3, 84090 Montecorvino Pugliano, Italy; (V.A.); (F.F.); (J.T.)
- Department of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
- European Institute of Metabolomics (EIM) Foundation ETS, G. Puccini, 2, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Vera Abenante
- Theoreo srl, Spin off Company of the University of Salerno, Via Degli Ulivi 3, 84090 Montecorvino Pugliano, Italy; (V.A.); (F.F.); (J.T.)
| | - Federica Fratestefano
- Theoreo srl, Spin off Company of the University of Salerno, Via Degli Ulivi 3, 84090 Montecorvino Pugliano, Italy; (V.A.); (F.F.); (J.T.)
| | - Valeria Del Vecchio
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry (Audiology and Vestibology Service), University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy; (V.D.V.); (A.R.F.)
| | - Anna Rita Fetoni
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry (Audiology and Vestibology Service), University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy; (V.D.V.); (A.R.F.)
| | - Jacopo Troisi
- Theoreo srl, Spin off Company of the University of Salerno, Via Degli Ulivi 3, 84090 Montecorvino Pugliano, Italy; (V.A.); (F.F.); (J.T.)
- Department of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
- European Institute of Metabolomics (EIM) Foundation ETS, G. Puccini, 2, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
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Corder ML, Petricoin EF, Li Y, Cleland TP, DeCandia AL, Alonso Aguirre A, Pukazhenthi BS. Metabolomic profiling implicates mitochondrial and immune dysfunction in disease syndromes of the critically endangered black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis). Sci Rep 2023; 13:15464. [PMID: 37726331 PMCID: PMC10509206 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41508-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The critically endangered black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis; black rhino) experiences extinction threats from poaching in-situ. The ex-situ population, which serves as a genetic reservoir against impending extinction threats, experiences its own threats to survival related to several disease syndromes not typically observed among their wild counterparts. We performed an untargeted metabolomic analysis of serum from 30 ex-situ housed black rhinos (Eastern black rhino, EBR, n = 14 animals; Southern black rhino, SBR, n = 16 animals) and analyzed differences in metabolite profiles between subspecies, sex, and health status (healthy n = 13 vs. diseased n = 14). Of the 636 metabolites detected, several were differentially (fold change > 1.5; p < 0.05) expressed between EBR vs. SBR (40 metabolites), female vs. male (36 metabolites), and healthy vs. diseased (22 metabolites). Results suggest dysregulation of propanoate, amino acid metabolism, and bile acid biosynthesis in the subspecies and sex comparisons. Assessment of healthy versus diseased rhinos indicates involvement of arachidonic acid metabolism, bile acid biosynthesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway in animals exhibiting inflammatory disease syndromes. This study represents the first systematic characterization of the circulating serum metabolome in the black rhinoceros. Findings further implicate mitochondrial and immune dysfunction as key contributors for the diverse disease syndromes reported in ex-situ managed black rhinos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly L Corder
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Species Survival, Front Royal, 22630, USA
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, 20900, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030, USA
| | - Emanuel F Petricoin
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, 20900, USA
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | | | - Alexandra L DeCandia
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Conservation Genomics, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
| | - A Alonso Aguirre
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Warner College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, 80523, USA
| | - Budhan S Pukazhenthi
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Species Survival, Front Royal, 22630, USA.
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Mannion A, Leader G. Relationship Between Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Parent Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Quality of Life and Social Support. J Autism Dev Disord 2023:10.1007/s10803-023-06110-7. [PMID: 37656363 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06110-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are a common comorbidity in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Little is known about the impact that GI symptoms have on parental well-being. Parents of 409 children and adolescents with ASD completed the GI Symptoms Inventory, Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated Version, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. High levels of stress were demonstrated by parents with 40.1% receiving clinically significant scores. A relationship was found between parental stress and GI symptoms. Parental anxiety and depression were found at high levels but were not more common in parents of individuals with GI symptoms than those without. Lower levels of quality of life were found in parents of individuals with GI symptoms compared to parents of individuals without GI symptoms. Parents of children with GI symptoms were less satisfied with their personal and social relationships with others. Parents of children with GI symptoms had lower scores on a measure of perceived social support than parents of children and adolescents without GI symptoms. GI symptoms are stressful for parents and future research is needed to determine how to alleviate this stress and to improve the quality of life of parents of individuals with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlene Mannion
- Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research, School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Geraldine Leader
- Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research, School of Psychology, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Zhao Y, Liu Y, Gao X, Wang D, Wang N, Xie R, Tong X, He Y, Yang L. Early biomarkers of neurodevelopmental disorders in preterm infants: protocol for a longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e070230. [PMID: 37295829 PMCID: PMC10277126 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Preterm (PT) infants are at high likelihood for poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), which could considerably impair the individuals' functions throughout their whole life. The current cohort study aims to investigate adverse outcomes, especially NDDs, in PT children, and the related early aberrant brain developmental biomarkers. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a prospective cohort study in Beijing, China. We plan to recruit 400 PT infants born at <37 weeks of gestational age (GA), and 200 full-term (FT) controls during the neonatal period (40 weeks corrected GA), then follow them up until they reach 6 years of age. This cohort is designed to assess neuropsychological functions, brain development, related environmental risk factors and the incidence of NDDs by using the following measures: (1) social, emotional, cognitive and sensorimotor functions; (2) MRI, electroencephalogram and functional near-infrared spectroscopy; (3) social economic status, maternal mental health and DNA methylation; and (4) symptoms and diagnosis of NDDs. Main data analyses will include comparing the neurodevelopment outcomes and brain developmental trajectories between PT and FT children using linear or logistic regressions and mixed-effects models. Regression analyses and machine learning will be used to identify early biological predictors and environmental risk or protective factors for later NDDs outcomes. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval has been obtained from the research ethics committee of Peking University Third Hospital (M2021087). This study is under review in the Chinese Clinical Trial Register. The study results from the current cohort will be disseminated and popularised through social media to participating parents, as well as parents who are giving care to PT children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilu Zhao
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfeng Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xuping Gao
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Rao Xie
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud Universiteit, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Xiaomei Tong
- Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and International Digital Group/McGovern Institute for Brain Research; Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Li Yang
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, China
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Sotelo-Orozco J, Schmidt RJ, Slupsky CM, Hertz-Picciotto I. Investigating the Urinary Metabolome in the First Year of Life and Its Association with Later Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder or Non-Typical Neurodevelopment in the MARBLES Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9454. [PMID: 37298406 PMCID: PMC10254021 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Developmental disabilities are often associated with alterations in metabolism. However, it remains unknown how early these metabolic issues may arise. This study included a subset of children from the Markers of Autism Risks in Babies-Learning Early Signs (MARBLES) prospective cohort study. In this analysis, 109 urine samples collected at 3, 6, and/or 12 months of age from 70 children with a family history of ASD who went on to develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD n = 17), non-typical development (Non-TD n = 11), or typical development (TD n = 42) were investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to measure urinary metabolites. Multivariate principal component analysis and a generalized estimating equation were performed with the objective of exploring the associations between urinary metabolite levels in the first year of life and later adverse neurodevelopment. We found that children who were later diagnosed with ASD tended to have decreased urinary dimethylamine, guanidoacetate, hippurate, and serine, while children who were later diagnosed with Non-TD tended to have elevated urinary ethanolamine and hypoxanthine but lower methionine and homovanillate. Children later diagnosed with ASD or Non-TD both tended to have decreased urinary 3-aminoisobutyrate. Our results suggest subtle alterations in one-carbon metabolism, gut-microbial co-metabolism, and neurotransmitter precursors observed in the first year of life may be associated with later adverse neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennie Sotelo-Orozco
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (R.J.S.); (I.H.-P.)
| | - Rebecca J. Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (R.J.S.); (I.H.-P.)
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Carolyn M. Slupsky
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
- Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (R.J.S.); (I.H.-P.)
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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Leader G, Gilligan R, Whelan S, Coyne R, Caher A, White K, Traina I, Muchenje S, Machaka RL, Mannion A. Relationships between challenging behavior and gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep problems, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children and adolescents with Angelman syndrome. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2022; 128:104293. [PMID: 35797778 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angelman syndrome (AS), is a rare genetic disorder. This study investigated the relationship between parent-reported comorbid symptoms including gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep problems, internalizing symptoms, and behavior problems in children and adolescents with AS. METHOD Parents of 98 children and adolescents with AS completed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Inventory, Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Child Behavior Checklist, Social Communication Questionnaire, and the Behavior Problem Inventory-Short Form. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regressions. RESULTS There was a high frequency of GI symptoms (99%), sleep problems (95.9%), challenging behavior (98%), internalizing symptoms (38%), and 72.4% of children and adolescents presented with ASD symptoms. Self-injurious behavior (SIB), aggressive/destructive behavior, and the frequency of stereotyped behavior positively correlated with GI symptoms and sleep problems and it was moderately negatively associated with age. Internalizing symptoms and age were positively associated with SIB. Aggression was significantly related to gender, but not the presence of ASD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Findings highlight the relationships between comorbid conditions. They may lead to a deeper understanding of how comorbidities present in children and adolescents with Angelman Syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rory Coyne
- National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Aoife Caher
- National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Ivan Traina
- National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
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Leader G, Abberton C, Cunningham S, Gilmartin K, Grudzien M, Higgins E, Joshi L, Whelan S, Mannion A. Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14071471. [PMID: 35406084 PMCID: PMC9003052 DOI: 10.3390/nu14071471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This systematic review aims to offer an updated understanding of the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents. The databases PsycINFO, Medline, Cinahl, and ERIC were searched using keywords, and relevant literature was hand-searched. Papers (n = 3319) were systematically screened and deemed eligible if they were empirical studies published in English since 2014 and measured the GIS of individuals with ASD who were under 18 years old. Thirty studies were included in the final review. The study findings were synthesized under eight themes, including the prevalence and nature of GIS and their relationship with developmental regression, language and communication, ASD severity, challenging behavior, comorbid psychopathology, sleep problems, and sensory issues. The review found that GIS were common and that there was contradictory evidence concerning their relationship with co-occurring conditions. It also identified evidence of some causal relationships that support the existence of the gut–immune–brain pathways. Future research needs to use large prospective designs and objective and standardized GIS measurements to provide a nuanced understanding of GIS in the context of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldine Leader
- Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (C.A.); (S.C.); (K.G.); (E.H.); (L.J.); (S.W.); (A.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Cathal Abberton
- Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (C.A.); (S.C.); (K.G.); (E.H.); (L.J.); (S.W.); (A.M.)
| | - Stephen Cunningham
- Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (C.A.); (S.C.); (K.G.); (E.H.); (L.J.); (S.W.); (A.M.)
| | - Katie Gilmartin
- Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (C.A.); (S.C.); (K.G.); (E.H.); (L.J.); (S.W.); (A.M.)
| | - Margo Grudzien
- Healthy Mind Clinic, 61 Old Church Crescent, Clondalkin, D22 VK63 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Emily Higgins
- Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (C.A.); (S.C.); (K.G.); (E.H.); (L.J.); (S.W.); (A.M.)
| | - Lokesh Joshi
- Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (C.A.); (S.C.); (K.G.); (E.H.); (L.J.); (S.W.); (A.M.)
| | - Sally Whelan
- Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (C.A.); (S.C.); (K.G.); (E.H.); (L.J.); (S.W.); (A.M.)
| | - Arlene Mannion
- Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland; (C.A.); (S.C.); (K.G.); (E.H.); (L.J.); (S.W.); (A.M.)
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Analysis of Faecal Microbiota and Small ncRNAs in Autism: Detection of miRNAs and piRNAs with Possible Implications in Host-Gut Microbiota Cross-Talk. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14071340. [PMID: 35405953 PMCID: PMC9000903 DOI: 10.3390/nu14071340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal microorganisms impact health by maintaining gut homeostasis and shaping the host immunity, while gut dysbiosis associates with many conditions, including autism, a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with multifactorial aetiology. In autism, gut dysbiosis correlates with symptom severity and is characterised by a reduced bacterial variability and a diminished beneficial commensal relationship. Microbiota can influence the expression of host microRNAs that, in turn, regulate the growth of intestinal bacteria by means of bidirectional host-gut microbiota cross-talk. We investigated possible interactions among intestinal microbes and between them and host transcriptional modulators in autism. To this purpose, we analysed, by "omics" technologies, faecal microbiome, mycobiome, and small non-coding-RNAs (particularly miRNAs and piRNAs) of children with autism and neurotypical development. Patients displayed gut dysbiosis related to a reduction of healthy gut micro- and mycobiota as well as up-regulated transcriptional modulators. The targets of dysregulated non-coding-RNAs are involved in intestinal permeability, inflammation, and autism. Furthermore, microbial families, underrepresented in patients, participate in the production of human essential metabolites negatively influencing the health condition. Here, we propose a novel approach to analyse faeces as a whole, and for the first time, we detected miRNAs and piRNAs in faecal samples of patients with autism.
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Chakrabarti A, Geurts L, Hoyles L, Iozzo P, Kraneveld AD, La Fata G, Miani M, Patterson E, Pot B, Shortt C, Vauzour D. The microbiota-gut-brain axis: pathways to better brain health. Perspectives on what we know, what we need to investigate and how to put knowledge into practice. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:80. [PMID: 35044528 PMCID: PMC8770392 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04060-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The gut and brain link via various metabolic and signalling pathways, each with the potential to influence mental, brain and cognitive health. Over the past decade, the involvement of the gut microbiota in gut-brain communication has become the focus of increased scientific interest, establishing the microbiota-gut-brain axis as a field of research. There is a growing number of association studies exploring the gut microbiota's possible role in memory, learning, anxiety, stress, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Consequently, attention is now turning to how the microbiota can become the target of nutritional and therapeutic strategies for improved brain health and well-being. However, while such strategies that target the gut microbiota to influence brain health and function are currently under development with varying levels of success, still very little is yet known about the triggers and mechanisms underlying the gut microbiota's apparent influence on cognitive or brain function and most evidence comes from pre-clinical studies rather than well controlled clinical trials/investigations. Filling the knowledge gaps requires establishing a standardised methodology for human studies, including strong guidance for specific focus areas of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, the need for more extensive biological sample analyses, and identification of relevant biomarkers. Other urgent requirements are new advanced models for in vitro and in vivo studies of relevant mechanisms, and a greater focus on omics technologies with supporting bioinformatics resources (training, tools) to efficiently translate study findings, as well as the identification of relevant targets in study populations. The key to building a validated evidence base rely on increasing knowledge sharing and multi-disciplinary collaborations, along with continued public-private funding support. This will allow microbiota-gut-brain axis research to move to its next phase so we can identify realistic opportunities to modulate the microbiota for better brain health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucie Geurts
- International Life Sciences Institute, European Branch, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Lesley Hoyles
- Department of Biosciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Patricia Iozzo
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Aletta D Kraneveld
- Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Michela Miani
- International Life Sciences Institute, European Branch, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Bruno Pot
- Yakult Europe BV, Almere, The Netherlands
| | | | - David Vauzour
- Norwich Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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11
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Maternal malnutrition and anaemia in India: dysregulations leading to the 'thin-fat' phenotype in newborns. J Nutr Sci 2021; 10:e91. [PMID: 34733503 PMCID: PMC8532069 DOI: 10.1017/jns.2021.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal and child malnutrition and anaemia remain the leading factors for health loss in India. Low birth weight (LBW) offspring of women suffering from chronic malnutrition and anaemia often exhibit insulin resistance and infantile stunting and wasting, together with increased risk of developing cardiometabolic disorders in adulthood. The resulting self-perpetuating and highly multifactorial disease burden cannot be remedied through uniform dietary recommendations alone. To inform approaches likely to alleviate this disease burden, we implemented a systems-analytical approach that had already proven its efficacy in multiple published studies. We utilised previously published qualitative and quantitative analytical results of rural and urban field studies addressing maternal and infantile metabolic and nutritional parameters to precisely define the range of pathological phenotypes encountered and their individual biological characteristics. These characteristics were then integrated, via extensive literature searches, into metabolic and physiological mechanisms to identify the maternal and foetal metabolic dysregulations most likely to underpin the ‘thin-fat’ phenotype in LBW infants and its associated pathological consequences. Our analyses reveal hitherto poorly understood maternal nutrition-dependent mechanisms most likely to promote and sustain the self-perpetuating high disease burden, especially in the Indian population. This work suggests that it most probably is the metabolic consequence of ‘ill-nutrition’ – the recent and rapid dietary shifts to high salt, high saturated fats and high sugar but low micronutrient diets – over an adaptation to ‘thrifty metabolism’ which must be addressed in interventions aiming to significantly alleviate the leading risk factors for health deterioration in India.
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Key Words
- 5-mTHF, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate
- Anaemia
- BAT, brown adipocyte tissue
- EAA, essential amino acids
- FA, fatty acid
- GSH, glutathione
- Hcy, homocysteine
- LBW, low birth weight
- Low birth weight
- Malnutrition
- PE, phosphatidylethanolamine
- Pathological mechanisms
- Physiological programming
- SAM, S-adenosyl methionine
- TG, triacylglycerol
- WAT, white adipocyte tissue
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12
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Cupaioli FA, Fallerini C, Mencarelli MA, Perticaroli V, Filippini V, Mari F, Renieri A, Mezzelani A. Autism Spectrum Disorders: Analysis of Mobile Elements at 7q11.23 Williams-Beuren Region by Comparative Genomics. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12101605. [PMID: 34680999 PMCID: PMC8535890 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by a deficit in social interaction and communication. Many genetic variants are associated with ASD, including duplication of 7q11.23 encompassing 26-28 genes. Symmetrically, the hemizygous deletion of 7q11.23 causes Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS), a multisystem disorder characterized by "hyper-sociability" and communication skills. Interestingly, deletion of four non-exonic mobile elements (MEs) in the "canine WBS locus" were associated with the behavioral divergence between the wolf and the dog and dog sociability and domestication. We hypothesized that indel of these MEs could be involved in ASD, associated with its different phenotypes and useful as biomarkers for patient stratification and therapeutic design. Since these MEs are non-exonic they have never been discovered before. We searched the corresponding MEs and loci in humans by comparative genomics. Interestingly, they mapped on different but ASD related genes. The loci in individuals with phenotypically different autism and neurotypical controls were amplified by PCR. A sub-set of each amplicon was sequenced by Sanger. No variant resulted associated with ASD and neither specific phenotypes were found but novel small-scale insertions and SNPs were discovered. Since MEs are hyper-methylated and epigenetically modulate gene expression, further investigation in ASD is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Anna Cupaioli
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Italian National Research Council, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20090 Segrate, Italy;
| | - Chiara Fallerini
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (V.P.); (V.F.); (F.M.); (A.R.)
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Perticaroli
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (V.P.); (V.F.); (F.M.); (A.R.)
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Virginia Filippini
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (V.P.); (V.F.); (F.M.); (A.R.)
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Francesca Mari
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (V.P.); (V.F.); (F.M.); (A.R.)
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Renieri
- Med Biotech Hub and Competence Center, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (C.F.); (V.P.); (V.F.); (F.M.); (A.R.)
- Medical Genetics, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Genetica Medica, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Mezzelani
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Italian National Research Council, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20090 Segrate, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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13
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Lombardi M, Troisi J. Gut Reactions: How Far Are We from Understanding and Manipulating the Microbiota Complexity and the Interaction with Its Host? Lessons from Autism Spectrum Disorder Studies. Nutrients 2021; 13:3492. [PMID: 34684493 PMCID: PMC8538077 DOI: 10.3390/nu13103492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by early onset difficulties in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests. It is characterized by familial aggregation, suggesting that genetic factors play a role in disease development, in addition to developmentally early environmental factors. Here, we review the role of the gut microbiome in autism, as it has been characterized in case-control studies. We discuss how methodological differences may have led to inconclusive or contradictory results, even though a disproportion between harmful and beneficial bacteria is generally described in autism. Furthermore, we review the studies concerning the effects of gut microbial-based and dietary interventions on autism symptoms. Also, in this case, the results are not comparable due to the lack of standardized methods. Therefore, autism-specific microbiome signatures and, consequently, possible microbiome-oriented interventions are far from being recognized. We argue that a multi-omic longitudinal implementation may be useful to study metabolic changes connected to microbiome changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Lombardi
- Department of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132-84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy; or
- Theoreo Srl Spin Off Company, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132-84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Jacopo Troisi
- Department of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132-84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy; or
- Theoreo Srl Spin Off Company, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132-84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
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14
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Schmidt RJ, Liang D, Busgang SA, Curtin P, Giulivi C. Maternal Plasma Metabolic Profile Demarcates a Role for Neuroinflammation in Non-Typical Development of Children. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11080545. [PMID: 34436486 PMCID: PMC8400060 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11080545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal and cord plasma metabolomics were used to elucidate biological pathways associated with increased diagnosis risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Metabolome-wide associations were assessed in both maternal and umbilical cord plasma in relation to diagnoses of ASD and other non-typical development (Non-TD) compared to typical development (TD) in the Markers of Autism risk in Babies: Learning Early Signs (MARBLES) cohort study of children born to mothers who already have at least one child with ASD. Analyses were stratified by sample matrix type, machine mode, and annotation confidence level. Dimensionality reduction techniques were used [i.e, principal component analysis (PCA) and random subset weighted quantile sum regression (WQSRS)] to minimize the high multiple comparison burden. With WQSRS, a metabolite mixture obtained from the negative mode of maternal plasma decreased the odds of Non-TD compared to TD. These metabolites, all related to the prostaglandin pathway, underscored the relevance of neuroinflammation status. No other significant findings were observed. Dimensionality reduction strategies provided confirming evidence that a set of maternal plasma metabolites are important in distinguishing Non-TD compared to TD diagnosis. A lower risk for Non-TD was linked to anti-inflammatory elements, thereby linking neuroinflammation to detrimental brain function consistent with studies ranging from neurodevelopment to neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Donghai Liang
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
| | - Stefanie A. Busgang
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (S.A.B.); (P.C.)
| | - Paul Curtin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (S.A.B.); (P.C.)
| | - Cecilia Giulivi
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Correspondence:
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15
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The Challenging Heterogeneity of Autism: Editorial for Brain Sciences Special Issue "Advances in Autism Research". Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10120948. [PMID: 33297430 PMCID: PMC7762320 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10120948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
My personal experience as Guest Editor of the Special Issue (SI) entitled "Advances in Autism Research" began with a nice correspondence with Andrew Meltzoff, from the University of Washington, Seattle (WA, USA), which, in hindsight, I consider as a good omen for the success of this Special Issue: "Dear Antonio… [...].
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