Autism Spectrum Disorders and Dietary interventions

I am regularly reading more and more research into the link between the gut and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and how dietary changes can help to improve or more importantly reduce the symptoms. Yet another article landed in my inbox this morning highlighting that growing evidence now shows an association between diet and ASD, demonstrating that impaired gut function may worsen both Gastrointestinal issues and behavioural symptoms associated with ASD. This article found that children with ASD and gut co-morbidities exhibit poor protein digestion, impaired gut-barrier integrity and a compromised gut microbiome.
So what does this mean, well gut co-morbidities could include chronic constipation and or diarrhoea. The children in this study and in many others also indicated poor digestive enzyme capacity and therefore inadequate protein digestion. These poorly digested proteins in the form of peptides are then found to cross into the blood stream creating an immune response as antibodies are found to be circulating suggesting impaired gut-barrier integrity. The gut microbiome or gut bacteria balance can also be compromised as poorly digested protein sitting in the gut and create havoc the balance of the gut bacteria.
Dietary intervention on a personalised basis is showing to be a positive way of improving gut function in children with ASD.