Probiotics

Might bacteria
be brilliant?
For decades researchers have looked at the
connection between the gut and the brain
to see if it might explain the mysteries of
autism. Now, scientists and parents are
trying probiotics to help the gut and tackle
autism symptoms. Report by Darren Devine
Momentum is gathering around Prebiotics, on the other hand, Anticipating
probiotics as a possible autism are nonliving food ingredients. his research
treatment. It follows a study in the They reach the large intestine analysis:
US last year that found one strain unaffected by digestion, and feed Dr Glenn
of the probiotic Lactobacillus the probiotics to help them flourish. Gibson, whose
reuteri reduced some autism-like Foods such as onions, cabbage laboratory
behaviours in mice. and garlic contain prebiotics such features an
And a team led by Professor as fructooligosaccharides and elaborate gut
Glenn Gibson at Reading galacto oligosaccharides. model for his
University is expected to publish its Professor Gibson says the experiments
findings later this year from a study results are in from his double-blind, (below left)
on prebiotics and autism. placebo-controlled study and they
Probiotics are live bacteria and show a difference between the Ten years ago Professor Gibson Their results were published in Cell
yeasts, usually added to yoghurts placebo and prebiotic groups. led a study on the impact of We have seen a last June.
or taken as food supplements and He says: All I can say is we have probiotics on autism. However, the By adding the probiotic back to
often described as good or seen a difference between one arm research was never completed difference the gut, the Baylor College team
friendly bacteria. They are said to of the study and the other, but we after it became a victim of its own between one arm of was able to reverse some autism-
help restore the natural balance of dont know which one is the test and success. Around half the 40 like symptoms, with the mice
bacteria in the gut, including the which one is the dummy. We wont parents dropped out before food the study and the showing greater signs of sociability.
stomach and intestines, after know for a while yet because weve microbiologist Professor Gibson other, but we dont However, other behaviours linked
damage from illness or antibiotics. got to finish all of the analysis. could complete a scientifically valid to autism, such as anxiety, were
study on their children. know which one is the not reversed.
images of Prof gibson and gut model courtesy university of reading

test and which one is

Improvement
Professor Gibson says that most of the dummy Healthy balance
those who dropped out were In more recent work, scientists
parents of children who were found faecal transplants from
taking the probiotic lactobacillus washout period in between. The people with healthy gut bacteria
lantarum.They had noticed an latest study saw children spend a may potentially reduce symptoms
improvement in their children and month on either the prebiotic or the of autism.
were unwilling to risk the progress placebo. The children were not Researchers at Arizona State
they saw by allowing them to trialled on both and there was no University said the faecal
switch to a placebo group in line washout period. microbiota transplants helped
with the study design. In the US study last year, restore the healthy balance of the
He believes his earlier study researchers at Baylor College of gut and resulted in an 80 per cent
was too demanding. It was Medicine, in Texas, worked with improvement of gastrointestinal
supposed to run over three mice. They found the absence of symptoms. Similarly, assessments
months, with the children spending Lactobacillus reuteri in the gut was showed autism symptoms
a month on the probiotic and a linked to autistic traits such as improved significantly and
month on the placebo, with a problems with social interaction. remained better eight weeks after Dr Megan Rossi: cautions parents on the cost of probiotics

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Probiotics

Ohio State University weighs in with its own research

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Structured Teaching University Wexner Medical our gut reacts A spokesman said: We Arnoldand his team of

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Center in the US, as many as to the emotions in know that our gut reacts to researchers hope to follow 60
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Stimulating and motivational three-day course providing the next step in the probiotics to children with want to see if altering those UK) or emailAbigail.Driscoll@
pathway to becoming a qualified TEACCH Practitioner. Priors Court is the only place autism could ease such signals with a probiotic osumc.eduand mention
this course is available outside of the USA. symptoms. They will look at how calledVisbiomecan ease probiotics. To participate,
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To book your place or for more information,
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on faecal transplants on page 40).
Two parents who have used
probiotics on their child are Pam
Smith-Ray and husband Don Ray,
46, from Texas. They say they have
spent thousands of dollars on a
range of treatments for five-year-
old son Colton Ray.
As well as probiotics, the family
have used such treatments as
craniosacral therapy (this relies on
light touch to soothe), digestive
enzymes (these help absorb
nutrients in food), vitamin c, multi
vitamins, fish oil and an elderberry
Mid-sleeper Bed
professionals and is against I guess one
experimenting with supplements on
their own. of the main
Nevertheless, she insists that all dangers is the cost
the supplements she has given to
Colton have contributed to and people being
improvements. She says he is now really disappointed
having fewer meltdowns and has
better attention, which means his with the results
performance in school has lifted.
Hes following instructions, Dr Megan Rossi is a research
staying in his seat, doing his work, associate at Kings College London
she says. Previously, he refused whose work looks at nutrition-
all work. He did absolutely nothing based therapies. In terms of the
and ran around grabbing things in 2016 study, she says the gut and

Designed for ASD supplement. Smith-Ray, 41, the class and throwing them. brain functioning of mice is very
different to that of humans. As a
result, she believes the Baylor
Safe space beneath
College findings should be treated
with caution.
Made from hard wearing For families of children with
wipe clean 18mm MDF autism thinking of trying probiotics,
Dr Rossi says the products are not
Corners and edges harmful but could prove costly and
ineffective. She says: I wouldnt be
rounded to 2mm radius saying theres going to be a danger.
I guess one of the main dangers is
Solid bed base the cost and people being really
disappointed with the results.
Tamper proof screws But groups such as the
where visible US-based Autism Science
Foundation say parents of children
with autism can fall victim to claims
that encourage unsafe, expensive
and ineffective non-evidence-
For more information please call our sales team on 01588 674 340, based treatments. They warn that
some vitamin supplements in high
email sales@toughfurniture.com or visit www.toughfurniture.com doses can be toxic and say there
is no evidence that autism is linked
to a gut disorder.
37106 Autism Eye Magazine Ad_133.5x188mm_AW.indd 1 17/05/2016 11:04
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