Without this step, no change can occur. The link between the intestines and the brain —a key organ in ASD—has already been proven many times: the enteric nervous system that connects these two organs is also called a “second brain” because it can even function autonomously after sectioning the vagus nerve.
Gut microbiota imbalance diagnosed in people with ASD
Gut dysbiosis plays a major role in disrupting this connection in people with ASD. The microbiota is the set of microorganisms living throughout the digestive system and involved in digestion, brain communication, immunity, and preventing the proliferation of harmful bacteria . Dysbiosis is a disruption of this whole: the microbiota is an ecosystem, like the Amazon. If you remove a certain type of tree (or bacteria), the whole thing becomes unbalanced. The Earth is warming, our bodies are malfunctioning. Rebalancing the microbiota is therefore the key to rebalancing the ecosystem. Analyses of the microbiota of people with ASD have revealed the presence of abnormal and harmful bacteria, absent in their parents and siblings without ASD. These analyses have also revealed the translocation of bacteria into parts of the intestinal system that do not normally accommodate them.
Taking probiotics and MTT may help reduce disorders
One of the avenues being pursued by the scientific community to study these imbalances is MTT: the fecal transplantation of the microbiota of a healthy carrier into a person suffering from ASD. A study of 18 children with ASD suffering from chronic gastrointestinal symptoms highlighted the usefulness of this technique. At the start of the study, children with ASD had a less diverse intestinal microbiota than children without ASD. Some strains of beneficial bacteria were completely depleted: bifidobacteria, lactobacillus reuteri, prevotella, coprococcus, veillonellaceae... The last three being directly involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates. The first phase of the study demonstrated the effectiveness of MTT in diversifying the microbiota and improving gastrointestinal and behavioral symptoms. These improvements persisted 8 weeks after stopping treatment, suggesting a long-term beneficial effect. Two years after the end of treatment, participants still showed a 58% reduction in their gastrointestinal symptoms compared to the start of the study. In addition, according to the parents' analysis, core autism symptoms (language, social interaction, and behavioral problems) had decreased by 45% between the start of treatment and the following two years.
MTT is still far from being a widespread technique, but its effects can be reproduced with continuous probiotic supplementation throughout the year . However, it is necessary to carefully select these probiotic cures and combine them with other lifestyle measures :
- Adopt a low-toxicity diet , without gluten, casein or soy to relieve hyperpermeability, calm the immune system in over-inflammation and alkalize the body in a state of acidosis.
- Learn to manage stress and emotions using resources adapted to your preferences and abilities: breathing, meditation, relaxation, sophrology, physical activity, sleep rebalancing, etc.
- Support the organs responsible for eliminating toxins , which are deficient in people with ASD, using herbal medicine and micronutrition treatments.
- Create a suitable environment where sources of toxemia are reduced to a minimum: endocrine disruptors, pollution, heavy metals, pesticides, etc.
This information is intended for your well-being and has no medical purpose.
Article written by Marion Garrido - Lifestyle and Naturopathy Practitioner specializing in ASD. For ease of reading, “Autism Spectrum Disorders” will be abbreviated to “ASD” throughout this article.
