Gut Bacteria Contributes to Autism?

Several studies have linked autism to gastrointestinal problems and metabolic irregularities, but a team of researchers at Imperial College London recently found that children with autism have a characteristic chemical signature in their urine. The team investigated 39 children with autism and 28 of their non-autistic siblings, as well as 34 unrelated children. Utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the researchers found that the autistic children’s urine had a distinct chemical fingerprint with significant differences from their non-autistic counterparts. The results add credence to existing theories that gut bacteria is partially to blame for the onset of autism by producing toxins that interfere with brain development. The results of the study introduce the potential for an early diagnostic test for the disease, as well.