Altered Gut Microbiota and Short-chain Fatty Acids in Chinese Children with Constipated Autism Spectrum Disorder Original paper
Researched by:
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Dr. Umar
ID
Dr. Umar
Read MoreClinical Pharmacist and Clinical Pharmacy Master’s candidate focused on antibiotic stewardship, AI-driven pharmacy practice, and research that strengthens safe and effective medication use. Experience spans digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London), pharmacovigilance in patient support programs, and behavioral approaches to mental health care. Published work includes studies on antibiotic use and awareness, AI applications in medicine, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. Developer of an AI-based clinical decision support system designed to enhance antimicrobial stewardship and optimize therapeutic outcomes.
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Dr. Umar
Read More
Researched by:
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Dr. Umar
ID
Dr. Umar
Read More
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
Location
China
Sample Site
Feces
Species
Homo sapiens
What was studied?
This study examined altered gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in constipated autism spectrum disorder (C-ASD) children, focusing on how microbial signatures and metabolites—particularly propionate—may characterise the condition. The investigation used 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to compare faecal microbiota and SCFAs between C-ASD and typically developing children.
Who was studied?
The study enrolled 80 Chinese children aged 3–10 years: 40 with C-ASD and 40 age- and sex-matched TD controls. All C-ASD participants met DSM-5 and ICD-10 diagnostic criteria and had constipation defined by validated gastrointestinal criteria. Exclusion factors included recent antibiotic or probiotic use, organic GI abnormalities, Rett syndrome, and other neurological conditions. Controls were healthy children without GI disorders.
Most important findings
Children with C-ASD had significantly reduced gut microbial richness based on Observed, Chao1, and ACE indices, which demonstrated lower alpha diversity compared with TD peers. Beta-diversity analysis (PCoA) further confirmed distinct microbial community structures between groups. Multiple discriminant taxa differed between groups. C-ASD children exhibited enrichment of Ruminococcaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, Phascolarctobacterium, Megamonas, and Parabacteroides, whereas TD children showed higher abundances of Lactobacillus, Anaerostipes, Ruminococcus, and Lachnospiraceae. Propionate emerged as the only SCFA significantly elevated in C-ASD faeces. The study shows this marked increase, while other SCFAs, including acetate and butyrate, remained unchanged. Propionate levels negatively correlated with Lactobacillus abundance and positively correlated with ASD severity scores (ABC and CARS), through scatterplots connecting bacterial abundance, metabolite levels, and clinical measures.
Key implications
The study reinforces that C-ASD features a distinct gut microbial signature marked by reduced diversity, elevated propionate, and depletion of Lactobacillus—a genus widely linked to gut–brain modulation. Excess propionate, known to cross the blood–brain barrier and induce autism-like features in animal models, appears clinically relevant because its levels correlated with ASD severity. These findings suggest that Lactobacillus depletion and propionate excess may serve as actionable biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. Probiotic strategies—especially involving Lactobacillus species capable of resisting propionate stress—represent a biologically plausible intervention for improving GI and neurobehavioral symptoms in C-ASD.
Citation
He J, Gong X, Hu B, et al. Altered gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in Chinese children with constipated autism spectrum disorder.Scientific Reports. 2023;13:19103. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-46566-2
Short-chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)
Short-chain fatty acids are microbially derived metabolites that regulate epithelial integrity, immune signaling, and microbial ecology. Their production patterns and mechanistic roles provide essential functional markers within microbiome signatures and support the interpretation of MBTIs, MMAs, and systems-level microbial shifts across clinical conditions.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social, communication, and behavioral challenges. It involves genetic and environmental factors, including microbiome imbalances which influence symptom severity and overall health.