indolylacryloylglycine and Autism-Spectrum-Disorder

To measure urine indolylacroylglycine (IAG) excretion using the IAG:creatinine ratio in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared with two groups of age matched controls, one with special needs but without ASD (SEN) and one typically developing (TD) and in subgroups with/without current gastrointestinal problems and ASD with and without regression. IAG:creatinine ratio was measured in the urine of 279 children aged 10-14 years: 129 children with ASD (28 with and 101 without regression), 62 SEN controls and 88 TD controls. The prevalence of gastro-intestinal symptoms (GIS) was recorded. No differences were found in the urine IAG:creatinine ratio among groups ASD, TD and SEN; nor in the ASD groups with/without regression, nor in those with/without GIS. This study finds no evidence of increased urine IAG excretion in children with ASD, with or without GIS or with or without regression. Urinary IAG measurements in children with ASD offer no support for increased presence of neuroactive peptides proposed to result from increased gut permeability. We found measurement of urinary IAG to have no value in the diagnosis of autism or in the dietary management of children with ASD. Autism Res 2017, 10: 408-413. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Topics: Adolescent; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Glycine; Humans; Male

An increase in urinary indolyl-3-acryloylglycine (IAG) has been reported in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who suffer with bowel problems in comparison to ASD children without gastrointestinal (GI) problems. The case for dietary intervention for ASD children with GI symptoms might be strengthened were such a difference to be autism-specific.. Quantitative analysis of urinary IAG levels was performed for 53 children on the autism spectrum and 146 age-matched controls. The parents of each child were asked to provide information on bowel symptoms experienced by the child and their eating habits over a period of 2 wk.. We find no significant difference in urinary IAG levels between the ASD children with GI problems and ASD children without GI problems. Although we see some difference between ASD children with GI problems and controls in mainstream schools with GI problems, the difference between non-autistic children with other developmental disorders and controls in mainstream schools is more significant so that any difference is not autism-specific. We find a strong correlation between bowel symptoms and diet problems in ASD children, especially idiosyncratic feeding behavior and we show that ASD children suffering from multiple bowel symptoms tend to be those who also have dietary problems.. We found no evidence to support the hypothesis that children with ASD who suffer with bowel problems have increased levels of urinary IAG in comparison to children with ASD who do not have gastrointestinal problems.

Topics: Adolescent; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child, Preschool; Diet; Female; Glycine; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intestinal Diseases; Intestines; Male; Young Adult