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Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of heterogenous disorders characterized by behavioral problems etc along with non-neurological co-morbidities.
Evidence suggests that there is increased prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms (whether or organic or neurobehavioral) in autism. Based on gut-brain hypothesis, such symptoms could be the child's method of communicating his/her symptoms to the care-giver.
Is It Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Autism-GI study overview
- Dr. Maenner and colleagues from the Waisman Center and Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison conducted the study.
- The investigators wished to examine if the behavioral problems tend to occur more in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) problems.
- The results of the study were reported in the Journal of Autism Developmental Disorders.
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
Autism-GI study design
- An ADDM network methodology was used. Behavioral features were compared between autism patients with and without GI problems.
- Patients were classified as autism if they met the DSM IV-TR (American Psychological Association 2000) criteria for the disorders at any time prior to the age of 8 years.
- The demographic and clinical information including results of psychometric tests and concurrent medical problems were recorded
- Eight different behavioral manifestations that may reflect a gastrointestinal disturbance were analyzed and included sleep abnormalities, mood disturbances and temper tantrums.
- Six non-GI related behavioral features like fear, delayed motor milestones were also analyzed for comparison.
Results of Autism-Gut study
- 7.2% of ASD patients studied had documented GI problems. Constipation and encopresis were common
- Autism patients with GI problems were more likely to have cerebral palsy and seizure like activity as compared to those who did not.
- Occurrence of gastrointestinal (G)I problems positively correlated with behavioral problems such as sleep problems, mood, abnormal eating habits, oppositional and defiant/destructive behavior, tantrums and delayed motor milestones.
- There was no association of GI problems with stereotypic/repetitive and self-injurious behaviors.
- There was lack of association with most control behaviors studied except delayed milestones.
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Conclusions of Autism-Gut Study
- The association of GI problems with cerebral palsy, seizure like activity and delayed milestones suggests that a subset of patients suffers from multisystem disorder involving nervous, gastrointestinal and immune system.
- Behavioral problems thought to be an expression of GI problems are common in autism although not specific to those with GI problems.
- Example: sleep problems were seen in 11% of those with GI problems as compared to 4% in those without
- Prevalence of autism behaviors does not accurately identify autism patients requiring gastrointestinal evaluation.
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
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