Gut Bacteria and Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been primarily seen as a neurological and/or genetic disorder. However, there are whole groups of researchers who are exploring the connection of ASD to the gut. A February 2012 study published in Nutritional Neuroscience found that a gluten-free, casein-free (dairy free) diet could help some children with autism. Now another study published December 5, 2013 in the journal Cell looked at the gut bacteria in mice. They found that treating mice with ASD-like behaviors with the bacteria Bacteroides fragilis alleviated the ASD-like behaviors. This is not a strain of probiotic that you can just go out and buy. In fact, it is one of those bacteria that is fine for you as long as it stays in the colon. If it able to get into the body, it is associated with abscesses and other infectious problems. So the gut issues are complex. If there is a gluten and/or casein sensitivity and the person continues to consume gluten and casein, the gut irritation results in increased gut permeability, or a leaky gut. This is not good for the rest of the body. Probiotics that you can buy can help heal the leaky gut. B. fragilis would be part of a healthy gut.