Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can turn your life upside down. Caring for a child with ASD affects everyone in your family and every corner of your life. The symptoms, the struggles…you’d do almost anything to make it better.
But with all of the models and tips on how to live easier with autism, what's really the best way to help a child live a more comfortable life?? The answer lies in the gut: Look for a way to balance their microbiome (the trillions of bacteria that live in their gut) and you will find a simple, safe way to improve symptoms and behaviors.
Quick Answer: Researchers are studying a strong connection between the gut microbiome and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). People with ASD are more likely to experience dysbiosis, an imbalance where harmful gut bacteria outnumber beneficial ones, which is associated with common GI symptoms. Because beneficial gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, antioxidants, and compounds that calm inflammation, supporting a balanced microbiome may help with GI comfort, mood, and behavior. Spore probiotics offer an everyday way to support gut balance by sending beneficial bacteria into the gut. This article describes general gut-health research and is not medical advice; talk with a qualified professional about ASD care.
Can Changing the Gut Microbiome Affect ASD?
Research suggests that shifting the makeup of the gut microbiome can have a positive, lasting effect on both physical issues and ASD-related behaviors, including reduced irritability, more eye contact, better communication, and fewer GI symptoms.
Changing the gut changes everything
Changing the microbiome makeup can have a profoundly positive and lasting effect on both physical issues and ASD behaviors. That includes:
- Reduced irritability
- More eye contact
- Better communication
- Fewer GI (gastrointestinal) symptoms
And thanks to a groundbreaking study, we know exactly how rebalancing the gut microbiome can help children with ASD.
What Did the Research on Gut Bacteria and ASD Find?
In a clinical trial that rebalanced the gut microbiomes of children with ASD, researchers reported improvements in GI and behavioral measures. A two-year follow-up found those improvements lasted and, by some measures, continued to improve.
Changes in Gut Bacteria Improve ASD Symptoms by 47%
A couple of years ago, a team of researchers looked into the connection between gut bacteria and ASD symptoms. They recruited 18 children with ASD, and rebooted their microbiomes completely in an 8-week clinical trial that included fecal transplant.
They found promising data that, by altering the gut microbiome, they were able to help improve GI and behavioral symptoms of ASD, including:
- 80% improvement in GI symptoms (like constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain)
- 24% reduction in CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale) scores
- decreased irritability
- reduced hyperactivity
- improved communication and socialization
- better daily living skills
- 4 year increase in developmental age
Those same researchers just published a two-year follow-up to that original study. It found that, not only did those improvements last for two years, they got even better:
At the two-year check back, CARS scores had decreased by an incredible 47%. And while almost all of the children scored in the severe range at the start of the original trial, 39% now placed in the mild to moderate range… and 44% scored below ASD cut-off.
On every single scale they looked at, they saw impressive improvements. That includes an average 2.5-year increase in developmental age.
Why Are GI Symptoms So Common With ASD?
People with ASD are more likely to experience dysbiosis, an imbalance where harmful gut bacteria outnumber beneficial ones, which helps explain why GI problems are so common. When GI issues are worse, other symptoms and behaviors may intensify too.
Fixing GI Symptoms Makes Everything Better
Get this: People with ASD are at least four times more likely to suffer dysbiosis (a condition where the bad bacteria in the gut outnumber the good).
That’s why GI problems are so common in ASD. And when GI issues are worse, other symptoms and behaviors may intensify.
In fact, research shows that more intense dysbiosis is directly linked with regression – a situation when children with ASD lose communication and social skills.
How Do Spore Probiotics Support Gut Balance?
Spore probiotics offer an everyday way to rebalance the microbiome by sending beneficial bacteria into the gut, which may help relieve GI symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and gas. A healthier gut also absorbs nutrients better and supports the production of feel-good neurotransmitters.
Spore Probiotics Promote Positive Gut Changes
While fecal transplants may work for some, it's not always the best solution. (Stay tuned for an article about fecal transplants coming soon!)
But there is an easy, "everyday" way to rebalance the microbiome: Fixing the gut microbiome with spore probiotics! Taking a daily spore probiotic basically sends in beneficial bacteria to rebalance the gut, helping to relieve GI symptoms like:
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Gas
- Abdominal pain
- Indigestion
- Food allergies
The benefits of the symptomatic relief then help to create a more comfortable child…but they don’t stop there.
A healthier gut breaks down and absorbs essential nutrients more effectively – and that leads to a more thoroughly nourished brain. Plus, beneficial gut bacteria produce important brain chemicals (called neurotransmitters) such as serotonin and dopamine… also know as “feel-good” chemicals that go a long way toward improving:
- Mood
- Learning ability
- Behavior
- Attention
- Thinking
- Social interactions
- Depression
- Anxiety
Add it all up and that can lead to positive changes in ASD behaviors.
How Does Gut Balance Relate to Inflammation?
Inflammation and oxidative stress both play roles in autism symptoms. Beneficial spore probiotics help quiet the bad bacteria that drive inflammation, and a calmer inflammatory response in the body may support the brain.
Taming inflammation soothes the brain
Two major factors – inflammation and oxidative stress – play huge roles in autism symptoms, both creating them and making them worse. But get them under control by rebalancing the gut microbiome, and it can lead to welcome improvements in autism behaviors.
Inflammation causes all sorts of damage when it spirals out of control – and that includes upsetting brain cells. That’s why inflammation plays such a big part in autism development and its most distressing symptoms. Research shows us that autistic children tend to have higher levels of pro-inflammatory compounds (called cytokines) in their brains.
Bad bacteria in the gut causes inflammation throughout the body and the brain. Supplying the microbiome with beneficial spore probiotics shut down those bad bacteria and the inflammation-causing chemicals they produce. That calms brain inflammation – reversing one of the key problems associated with autism symptoms.
How Do Antioxidants From Gut Bacteria Help?
Oxidative stress occurs when the body lacks enough antioxidants to neutralize free radicals. Rebalancing the gut helps reduce oxidative stress, and certain spore probiotics, like Bacillus indicus HU36, actually produce antioxidants right in the gut.
Fighting free radicals improves autism symptoms
Research shows that oxidative stress also plays a key role in causing autism symptoms and behaviors. Before we get to the fix, let’s take a second to talk about what’s really going on here.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that “steal” from healthy cells, causing all kinds of damage. Antioxidants step in to give the free radicals what they need to stabilize, so they’ll leave healthy cells alone. Oxidative stress happens when the body doesn’t have enough antioxidants to neutralize all the free radicals floating around. That’s especially damaging to vulnerable young brain cells.
Dysbiosis increases oxidative stress – so rebalancing the gut helps reduce free radicals.
Even better, specific spore probiotics actually produce antioxidants.
In fact, Bacillus indicus HU36 is known to produce at least 15 carotenoids (a special kind of antioxidant) including beta-carotene and lycopene. These carotenoids neutralize damaging free radicals. And HU36 produces them right in the gut, exactly where they’re best absorbed and distributed.
Rebalancing the gut microbiome with spore probiotics reduces free radical damage, calms inflammation, reduces GI symptoms and can make a profound difference in ASD symptoms and behaviors.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gut Bacteria and Autism
Is there a link between the gut microbiome and autism?
Researchers are actively studying a connection between gut bacteria and ASD. People with ASD are more likely to experience dysbiosis, an imbalance of gut bacteria, and gut health appears to relate to GI symptoms and some behaviors.
What is dysbiosis?
Dysbiosis is a condition in which harmful bacteria in the gut outnumber the beneficial ones. It is common in people with ASD and is associated with GI issues like constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
How might gut bacteria influence mood and behavior?
Beneficial gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, often called feel-good chemicals, that play a role in mood, learning, attention, and social interaction. A balanced microbiome supports the production of these compounds.
How do spore probiotics support gut balance?
Spore probiotics survive digestion to reach the gut, where they help rebalance the microbiome by supporting beneficial bacteria and crowding out pathogens. The strains in Just Thrive support GI comfort and a healthy inflammatory response.
Can children take spore probiotics?
Just Thrive Probiotic comes in small, easy-to-open capsules that can be mixed into foods, including baked goods, without losing effectiveness. As with any supplement, talk with your child's healthcare provider before starting.
Spark positive changes in ASD symptoms with a microbiome reboot
The clinically proven combination of spore probiotics in Just Thrive resets the gut microbiome to reverse dysbiosis. The four strains of spore probiotics in Just Thrive help ease GI symptoms, tame inflammation, and provide many other benefits.
Bacillus indicus HU36 produces powerful antioxidants that stop damaging free radicals.
Bacillus subtilis reduces inflammation and improves digestive health.
Bacillus coagulans improves GI issues and increases GI comfort.
Bacillus clausii helps beneficial bacteria survive and thrive, even after a course of antibiotics.
Just Thrive Probiotic is a 100% spore formula that comes in small, easy-to-open capsules. They can be easily mixed into and hidden in foods – including baked goods – without losing any of their effectiveness.
Let Just Thrive Probiotic reboot your child’s gut bacteria today.
