Intermittent Fasting and Akkermansia muciniphila Exert Independent and Combined Benefits on Behavioral and Neurobiological Deficits in a VPA-Induced Autism Rat Model - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #probiotics
- #intermittent fasting
- #autism
- The study investigates the effects of intermittent fasting (IF) and Akkermansia muciniphila on behavioral and neurobiological deficits in a VPA-induced autism rat model.
- Prenatal VPA exposure worsened behavioral and molecular parameters, including neuroinflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, and GABAergic dysfunction.
- Both IF and Akkermansia muciniphila improved stereotypy, social interaction, and memory, with combined treatment showing enhanced benefits, including anhedonia improvement.
- Treatments reduced neuroinflammation and apoptosis while enhancing autophagy and GABAergic markers, with region-specific effects in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus.
- All treatments successfully lowered elevated serum zonulin levels, indicating improved gut permeability.
- The combined IF and probiotic treatment demonstrated stronger, multi-targeted therapeutic potential for autism-related impairments.