CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF GUT MICROBIOTA ALTERATIONS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND THEIR ROLE IN PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION
Keywords:
Autism Spectrum Disorder, gut microbiota, gut-brain axis, pediatric rehabilitation, probiotics, dysbiosis.Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behavioral patterns. During the past decade, increasing evidence has highlighted the importance of the gut–brain axis in the pathogenesis of ASD. Gastrointestinal symptoms are considerably more prevalent among children with ASD than among neurotypical peers, suggesting that intestinal dysbiosis may contribute to disease progression. This review aims to summarize current evidence regarding gut microbiota alterations in children with ASD and discuss their clinical significance and potential role in pediatric rehabilitation. Literature published in major scientific databases was analyzed with particular emphasis on microbial diversity, inflammatory mechanisms, intestinal permeability, microbial metabolites, and microbiota-targeted therapeutic interventions.
Current evidence indicates that alterations in intestinal microbiota composition may influence immune regulation, neurotransmitter synthesis, and neuroinflammatory processes. Dietary interventions, probiotics, prebiotics, and other microbiota-modulating strategies may improve gastrointestinal symptoms and potentially enhance rehabilitation outcomes. However, further large-scale randomized controlled studies are required to establish standardized clinical recommendations.
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