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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Med.
Sec. Translational Medicine
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1411089
This article is part of the Research Topic Translational Approaches in Deciphering the Gut Microbiome's Role in Non-Communicable Diseases View all 4 articles

FMT Intervention Decreases Urine 5-HIAA Level: A Randomized Double-blind Controlled Study

Provisionally accepted
LH Wang LH Wang 1Lianhu Yu Lianhu Yu 1Liu Zhiyue Liu Zhiyue 1Ch Che Ch Che 1Y Wang Y Wang 1Yongheng Zhao Yongheng Zhao 1MN Zhu MN Zhu 1Guang Yang Guang Yang 2Aihua Cao Aihua Cao 1*
  • 1 Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
  • 2 People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is often linked to gastrointestinal issues and altered serotonin metabolism. Emerging evidence suggests gut microbiota influence both, with fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) offering a potential therapeutic approach. However, its impact on serotonin metabolism and ASD symptoms is not well understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of FMT and examine changes in specific urinary metabolites in children with ASD.Methods: A randomized double-blind controlled trial was performed to evaluate the clinical effects of FMT on GI and ASD-related symptoms. Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and the ASD-related symptoms were assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores. Urinary metabolites were analyzed by homogeneous enzyme immunoassay using commercially available kits. Results: Significant improvements in GI and core ASD symptoms were observed following FMT intervention. The average GSRS scores decreased from 30.17 (before) to 19 (after; p < 0.0001), CARS scores decreased from 36.22 to 33.33 (p < 0.0001), SRS scores decreased from 151.17 to 137.5 (p = 0.0002), and the ABC scores decreased 76.39 to 53.17 (p < 0.0001) in the FMT group. However, in the placebo group, GSRS, CARS, and SRS scores showed no significant changes, while ABC scores decreased from 72 to 58.75 (p = 0.034).The FMT group also showed a significant reduction in urinary 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels from 8.6 to 7.32 mg/L (p = 0.022), while other metabolites showed no significant changes.FMT is a safe and effective treatment for improving GI and core symptoms in children with ASD, with 5-HIAA showing potential as a urinary biomarker for treatment response.

    Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorders, fecal microbiota transplantation, Urine metabolomics, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, 5-HT

    Received: 02 Apr 2024; Accepted: 27 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wang, Yu, Zhiyue, Che, Wang, Zhao, Zhu, Yang and Cao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Aihua Cao, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong Province, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.