Autism and the gut metabolome: Evidence for altered short-chain fatty acid profiles from a systematic review and meta-analysis - PubMed
4 hours ago
- #Short-chain fatty acids
- #Autism spectrum disorder
- #Gut microbiota
- Growing evidence links gut microbiome dysbiosis and its metabolites, particularly short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), to autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- A systematic review and meta-analysis compared SCFA profiles between individuals with ASD and neurotypical controls.
- Sixteen studies (473 ASD cases, 514 controls) were included, revealing substantial heterogeneity across studies for most SCFAs.
- Valeric acid (SMD = 0.76) and hexanoic acid (SMD = 0.60) levels were significantly elevated in individuals with ASD.
- Isobutyric acid showed a positive association (SMD = 0.21) with lower heterogeneity.
- No significant overall differences were found for acetic, propionic, or butyric acids, but subgroup analyses indicated variations based on sample source.
- The findings suggest gut microbial dysbiosis involving distinct metabolic pathways in ASD.
- Significant heterogeneity and sample-source-dependent effects highlight the complexity of the gut-brain axis in ASD.
- Future research with standardized protocols and longitudinal designs is needed to clarify the role of SCFAs.