Probiotic application in autism treatment: a systematic review

Introduction:
Autism is characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication skills, as well as repetitive behaviors. Probiotics and prebiotics have been shown to positively impact gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and other symptoms such as seizures, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and immune system dysfunctions associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study examined the possible effects of probiotic consumption on individuals with ASD.

Material and methods:
Articles included in the study were searched comprehensively in electronic databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar. The search terms were defined as “autism,” “probiotics,” and combinations of these terms. Filters were applied to include studies published from the inception of the databases to the present. The following were excluded: book chapters, descriptive studies, conference proceedings, letters to the editor, literature reviews, narrative reviews, systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis, and nutritional adjunctive intervention studies.

Results:
The study found that probiotic applications containing different strains may improve behavior and communication and reduce gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with ASD.

Conclusions:
Probiotics appear to have significant and positive effects on children with ASD. The study examined 1,374 children, adolescents, and adults from 24 different groups. The study found that probiotic use had positive therapeutic effects on behavior, gastrointestinal and other symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder.