A long-held belief linking gut bacteria to autism has been debunked by an Australian research team that included researchers from CliniKids at Telethon Kids Institute.
Rather than causing autism, the study, published in October 2021 in the scientific journal Cell, found that individuals with autism had less diverse gut bacteria because they were more likely to be picky eaters.
The Australian collaborative Autism CRC study, which was led by Mater Research and The University of Queensland, examined genetic material from the stool samples of 247 children, including 99 children diagnosed with autism.
Senior Research Fellow at CliniKids, Dr Gail Alvares, said the findings brought much-needed clarity to an area often shrouded in mystery.
“Interest in the autism gut microbiome first came from observations that people on the autism spectrum are more likely to experience gut problems, such as constipation and diarrhoea,” Dr Alvares said.
“Rather than differences in gut bacteria influencing brain development, our research suggests changes in gut bacteria are driven by restricted diets, or picky eating.
“We need to do more to support families at mealtimes, in particular for families with autistic children, rather than resorting to fad therapies that may do more harm than good.”