Image by Robin Higgins from Pixabay
Image by Robin Higgins from Pixabay

Kids' gut microbiome could influence their risk of ADHD

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Peer-reviewed: This work was reviewed and scrutinised by relevant independent experts.

Observational study: A study in which the subject is observed to see if there is a relationship between two or more things (eg: the consumption of diet drinks and obesity). Observational studies cannot prove that one thing causes another, only that they are linked.

People: This is a study based on research using people.

Cells: This is a study based on research in micro-organisms, cells, tissue, organs or non-human embryos.

The microbial composition of the gut may affect a child’s susceptibility to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to international research. When the team collected poo samples from 35 children with ADHD and 35 healthy controls, samples from children with ADHD had higher levels of certain species of fungi and lower levels of other species. They conducted experiments with cells grown in a lab, finding that the species which is abundant in samples from children with ADHD—called Candida albicans—increased the permeability of cells that line the intestine. They say this could create a “leaky gut” that allows bacteria into the bloodstream, possibly resulting in inflammation throughout the body and brain. The authors suggest that their findings show that dysbiosis of the fungal mycobiome in ADHD can influence patient health.

Journal/conference: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Link to research (DOI): 10.1111/jcpp.13779

Organisation/s: Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan

Funder: Please see paper for full funding

Media release

From: Wiley

Do altered gut microbes affect risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

New research published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry suggests that the microbial composition of the gut may affect a child’s susceptibility to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The human gastrointestinal tract hosts a large population of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. When investigators compared fecal samples from 35 children with ADHD and 35 healthy controls, samples from children with ADHD had higher levels of certain species of fungi and lower levels of other species.

In experiments with cells grown in the lab, one species in abundance in samples from children with ADHD—called Candida albicans—increased the permeability of cells that line the intestine. This could create a “leaky gut” that allows bacteria into the bloodstream, possibly resulting in inflammation throughout the body and brain.

“The human body is home to a complex and diverse microbial ecosystem, and findings from this study suggest that dysbiosis of the fungal mycobiome in ADHD can influence patient health,” the authors wrote.

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