Gut microbiota, vitamin A deficiency and autism spectrum disorder: an interconnected trio - a systematic review.

Accumulating evidence proves that children with autism have gastrointestinal problems. However, a significant difference in gut microbiota (GM) exists between autistic and non-autistic children. These changes in the GM may stem from several factors. Recently, researchers focused on nutritional factors, especially vitamin deficiency. Thus, our systematic review investigates the connections among autism, GM alterations, and vitamin A deficiency (VAD), by analyzing studies sourced from PubMed and Embase databases spanning from 2010 to 2022. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we meticulously selected 19 pertinent studies that established links between autism and GM changes or between autism and VAD. Our findings uniformly point to significant alterations in the GM of individuals with autism, indicating these changes as promising biomarkers for the disorder. Despite the consistent association of GM alterations with autism, our analysis revealed no notable differences in GM composition between individuals with autism and those experiencing VAD. This suggests that VAD, especially when encountered early in life, might play a role in the onset of autism. Furthermore, our review underscores a distinct correlation between reduced levels of retinoic acid in children with autism, a disparity that could relate to the severity of autism symptoms. The implications of our findings are twofold: they not only reinforce the significance of GM alterations as potential diagnostic markers but also spotlight the critical need for further research into nutritional interventions. Specifically, vitamin A supplementation emerges as a promising avenue for alleviating autism symptoms, warranting deeper investigation into its therapeutic potential.

Antioxidants, Hormetic Nutrition, and Autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes a heterogeneous group of complex neurodevel opmental disorders characterized by atypical behaviors with two core pathological manifestations: deficits in social interaction/communication and repetitive behaviors, which are associated with disturbed redox homeostasis. Modulation of cellular resilience mechanisms induced by low levels of stressors represents a novel approach for the development of therapeutic strategies, and in this context, neuroprotective effects of a wide range of polyphenol compounds have been demonstrated in several in vitro and in vivo studies and thoroughly reviewed by [2, 3]. Mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine for many years and have been associated with a long list of therapeutic properties, including antitumor, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and hepatoprotective effects [4]. Our recent studies have strikingly indicated the presence of polyphenols in nutritional mushrooms and demonstrated their protective effects in different models of neurodegenerative disorders in humans and rats [5, 6]. Although their therapeutic effects are exerted through multiple mechanisms, increasing attention is focusing on their capacity to induce endogenous defense systems by modulating cellular signaling processes, such as nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. Here we discuss the protective role of hormesis and its modulation by hormetic nutrients in ASD.

Neuroprotective effects of the Chrysophyllum perpulchrum extract against an Alzheimer-like rat model of ß amyloid1-40 intrahippocampal injection.

OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a threatening disease for African populations in the upcoming years because of the increase in their expectancy of life. Here, we investigated whether natural products from Chrysophyllum perpulchrum as catechin and two dimeric procyanidins (catechin + hexose) could prevent progression of oxidative stress and cognitive changes using an AD-like rat model induced by Aß1-40 injection into the hippocampal CA1 subfield. METHODOLOGY: Adult male Wistar rats were either microinjected with 1% ammonia as a vehicle (10 µL) or aggregated Aß1-40 at 10 µg bilateral hippocampus. On the 14th day of post-surgery, some Aß rats were treated with melatonin (10 mg/kg i.p.) or with the Chrysophyllum perpulchrum extract (300 mg/kg p.o.), and some sham-operated rats received the extract alone. Cognitive abilities were tested with Y-maze, object recognition test and Morris Water Maze. Oxidative stress markers as well as the level of activated microglial cells were assayed in the brain. RESULTS: Aß rats exhibited significant deficits of recognition memory and spatial learning. This was associated with an increase of microglia Iba 1 immunoreactivity as well as nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase levels but not to the thiol content in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and septum of AD-like rats. The Chrysophyllum perpulchrum extract treatment mitigated Aß-induced cognitive impairments and reversed microglia overactivation and subsequent generation of oxidative stress markers. Interestingly, the neuroprotective actions of the Chrysophyllum perpulchrum extract seem to be comparable to the control drug melatonin used albeit with some more beneficial effects. CONCLUSION: These findings are preliminary and should be strengthened by more pharmacological studies of bioactive compounds of Chrysophyllum perpulchrum before being proposed as a promising drug against AD.

Profile and use of licit psychotropic substances in the former Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaër Region (Morocco): the case of tiflet city.

INTRODUCTION: Psychopharmacology today faces serious challenges, especially related inappropriate drug choices, abuse and resulting side effects. The aim of this pharmacy based study in the City of Tiflet was to profile the prescription and usage patterns of psychotropic drugs. METHODS: This study was conducted in the pharmacies of the City of Tiflet (Morocco). Descriptive statistics of 5125 prescriptions collected from 21 pharmacies were analysed, and summarized as means, percentages and proportions where appropriate. RESULTS: The patterns of psychotropic drugs use were similar, compared to Western Countries, especially for anxiolytics/hypnotics, neuroleptics and anti-depressants. A poor monitoring of the treatment, and the lack of control of its side effects were major concerns. General practitioners ranked first among doctors who prescribed psychotropic drugs (48.5%), followed by psychiatrists (41.7%), and the rest of the prescriptions come from other specialists (neurologists, cardiologists, gynaecologists…). Among psychotropic drugs, anxiolytics dominated prescriptions (52.0%), followed by neuroleptics (29.0%) and anti-depressants (19.0%). Men consumed more psychotropic drugs than women (51.8% against 48.2% respectively). CONCLUSION: Anxiolytics/hypnotics constitute the main class of psychotropic drugs prescribed in the Tiflet City, followed by neuroleptics and anti-depressants. Nearly half of the population currently receive prescribed psychotropic drugs from general practitioners. Psychiatrists are less involved in the prescription and monitoring of these patients. This could predispose the population to addiction, drug misuse, intoxication, and at times, misdiagnosis of serious psychiatric illnesses. Our study highlights the urgency of reinforcing psychotropic prescription regulation and monitoring in Tiflet city.