Slow intestinal transit contributes to elevate urinary p-cresol level in Italian autistic children

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• 作者：Stefano Gabriele ; Roberto Sacco ; Laura Altieri ; Cristina Neri ; Andrea Urbani ; Carmela Bravaccio ; Maria Pia Riccio ; Maria Rosaria Iovene ; Francesca Bombace ; Laura De Magistris and Antonio M. Persico
• 刊名：Autism Research
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：July 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：9
• 期：7
• 页码：752-759
• 全文大小：213K
• ISSN：1939-3806

文摘

The uremic toxin p-cresol (4-methylphenol) is either of environmental origin or can be synthetized from tyrosine by cresol-producing bacteria present in the gut lumen. Elevated p-cresol amounts have been previously found in the urines of Italian and French autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children up until 8 years of age, and may be associated with autism severity or with the intensity of abnormal behaviors. This study aims to investigate the mechanism producing elevated urinary p-cresol in ASD. Urinary p-cresol levels were thus measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography in a sample of 53 Italian ASD children assessed for (a) presence of Clostridium spp. strains in the gut by means of an in vitro fecal stool test and of Clostridium difficile-derived toxin A/B in the feces, (b) intestinal permeability using the lactulose/mannitol (LA/MA) test, (c) frequent use of antibiotics due to recurrent infections during the first 2 years of postnatal life, and (d) stool habits with the Bristol Stool Form Scale. Chronic constipation was the only variable significantly associated with total urinary p-cresol concentration (P < 0.05). No association was found with presence of Clostridium spp. in the gut flora (P = 0.92), augmented intestinal permeability (P = 0.18), or frequent use of antibiotics in early infancy (P = 0.47). No ASD child was found to carry C. difficile in the gut or to release toxin A/B in the feces. In conclusion, urinary p-cresol levels are elevated in young ASD children with increased intestinal transit time and chronic constipation. Autism Res 2016, 9: 752–759.