Gastrointestinal, nutritional, endocrine, and microbiota conditions in autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Gastrointestinal, nutritional, metabolic, endocrine, and microbiota medical problems in pediatric patients diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are some of the coexisting medical conditions in ASD diagnosis. Their prevalence reaches more than 91 % for gastrointestinal problems, up to 89 % for nutritional and metabolic disorders, more than 50 % for thyroid dysfunction, and up to 100 % for microbiota-related conditions. There is an urgency for medical practice to be updated and to include the assessment, testing, diagnosis, and treatment of these coexisting medical conditions in ASD diagnosis in the pediatric, adolescent, and adult population. A strict management of such conditions results in positive changes in the quality of life and symptoms based on which ASD is diagnosed many times. It should be based on high-quality scientific evidence with an adequate medical care and control.