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Children with autism found more likely to have gastrointestinal symptoms
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Children with autism spectrum disorder are more likely to have gastrointestinal symptoms as infants and toddlers compared with children with typical development; and more likely to have constipation compared with children with developmental delays, according to data published in JAMA Psychiatry.
“We not only learned that these symptoms appeared early in infancy; we also found that children with [autism spectrum disorder] were at significantly increased risk for these symptoms to persist compared with typically developing children,” Michaeline Bresnahan, PhD, assistant professor of Epidemiology at the Mailman School, said in a press release.
The prospective cohort was derived from the Norwegian Mother and Children Cohort Study, including 95,278 mothers, 75,248 fathers and 114,516 children during a 10-year study period. Maternal reports of gastrointestinal symptoms included constipation, diarrhea and food allergy or intolerance.
The children were categorized into three groups: children with ASD (n = 195), developmental delays and delayed language and/or motor development (n = 4,636) and children with typical development (n = 40,295), according to data.
Researchers determined that children aged 6 to 18 months with ASD had a significantly increased risk for maternal reports of constipation (adjusted OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.9-3.8) and food allergy or intolerance (aOR = 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.6), compared with children in the typical development group.
During the 18 to 36-month screening period, children with ASD also demonstrated a significantly greater risk for maternal reports of diarrhea (aOR = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.5-3.6), constipation (aOR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.3), and food allergy or intolerance (aOR = 2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.1), also compared with children in the typical development group.
There was a greater likelihood of maternal reports for one or more gastrointestinal symptoms in either age group period among children with ASD, the researchers wrote. Mothers were also twice as likely to report at least one gastrointestinal symptoms in both age group periods compared with mothers of children with typical development or developmental delays, according to researchers.
The researchers recommend that future studies focus on early life, with emphasis on the development of the enteric nervous system, innate and adaptive immunity, microbial colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and feeding or dietary patterns. – by Samantha Costa
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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