Effect of maternal diet on gut bacteria and autism spectrum disorder in offspring

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests in early childhood, with its specific causes and pathogenesis remaining incompletely understood. The gut bacteria plays a pivotal role in host health and neurodevelopment. Maternal eating disorders may disrupt maternal gu...

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Main Authors: Zilin Chen, Xu Wang, Yuchen Hu, Si Zhang, Fei Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2025.1623576/full
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author Zilin Chen
Xu Wang
Yuchen Hu
Si Zhang
Fei Han
author_facet Zilin Chen
Xu Wang
Yuchen Hu
Si Zhang
Fei Han
author_sort Zilin Chen
collection DOAJ
description Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests in early childhood, with its specific causes and pathogenesis remaining incompletely understood. The gut bacteria plays a pivotal role in host health and neurodevelopment. Maternal eating disorders may disrupt maternal gut bacteria and subsequently influence fetal and neonatal gut bacteria through the gut-placental axis and breastfeeding. This disruption can ultimately impact the microbial-gut-brain axis, the immune system, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and metabolite abnormalities, thereby increasing the risk of ASD in offspring. This paper reviews the adverse effects of bad maternal dietary habits, including high-sugar, high-salt, high-fat diets, alcohol consumption, dietary fiber deficiency, and the intake of ultra-processed foods, on the gut bacteria. It also explores the mechanisms by which gut microbiota disorder may induce ASD through the immune system, neurotransmitters, and metabolites. Additionally, the article proposes potential strategies to prevent ASD by adjusting dietary structures and enhancing gut bacteria health.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-be3fe227c676432ea62f1cc4afc53e5b2025-08-20T03:59:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience1662-51022025-08-011910.3389/fncel.2025.16235761623576Effect of maternal diet on gut bacteria and autism spectrum disorder in offspringZilin Chen0Xu Wang1Yuchen Hu2Si Zhang3Fei Han4Department of Pediatrics, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests in early childhood, with its specific causes and pathogenesis remaining incompletely understood. The gut bacteria plays a pivotal role in host health and neurodevelopment. Maternal eating disorders may disrupt maternal gut bacteria and subsequently influence fetal and neonatal gut bacteria through the gut-placental axis and breastfeeding. This disruption can ultimately impact the microbial-gut-brain axis, the immune system, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and metabolite abnormalities, thereby increasing the risk of ASD in offspring. This paper reviews the adverse effects of bad maternal dietary habits, including high-sugar, high-salt, high-fat diets, alcohol consumption, dietary fiber deficiency, and the intake of ultra-processed foods, on the gut bacteria. It also explores the mechanisms by which gut microbiota disorder may induce ASD through the immune system, neurotransmitters, and metabolites. Additionally, the article proposes potential strategies to prevent ASD by adjusting dietary structures and enhancing gut bacteria health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2025.1623576/fullautism spectrum disordergut bacteriaimmune-inflammationmaternal dietmicrobial-gut-brain axis
spellingShingle Zilin Chen
Xu Wang
Yuchen Hu
Si Zhang
Fei Han
Effect of maternal diet on gut bacteria and autism spectrum disorder in offspring
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
autism spectrum disorder
gut bacteria
immune-inflammation
maternal diet
microbial-gut-brain axis
title Effect of maternal diet on gut bacteria and autism spectrum disorder in offspring
title_full Effect of maternal diet on gut bacteria and autism spectrum disorder in offspring
title_fullStr Effect of maternal diet on gut bacteria and autism spectrum disorder in offspring
title_full_unstemmed Effect of maternal diet on gut bacteria and autism spectrum disorder in offspring
title_short Effect of maternal diet on gut bacteria and autism spectrum disorder in offspring
title_sort effect of maternal diet on gut bacteria and autism spectrum disorder in offspring
topic autism spectrum disorder
gut bacteria
immune-inflammation
maternal diet
microbial-gut-brain axis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2025.1623576/full
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