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Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids as Potential Biomarkers for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2023

N. Boonchooduang*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics
O. Louthrenoo
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics
N. Likhitweerawong
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics
C. Thonusin
Affiliation:
Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research
N. Chattipakorn
Affiliation:
Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research
S. C. Chattipakorn
Affiliation:
Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Center Center of Excellence in Cardiac Electrophysiology Research Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Growing evidence supports a possible link between gut microbiota and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) via the gut-brain axis. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the major metabolites produced by gut microbiota through anaerobic fermentation, may influence gut-brain communication.

Objectives

To determine the alterations of gut microbiota and fecal SCFAs in children diagnosed with ADHD compared to healthy subjects.

Methods

Fecal samples were collected from children with ADHD (n=10), and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n=10) for gut microbiota and SCFAs analysis.

Results

There were no significant differences in the abundance of any bacterial phyla in feces between groups. However, fecal concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid were significantly lower in children with ADHD compared to those of controls (Figure1). Interestingly, acetic acid and propionic acid levels were negatively correlated with ADHD symptoms (Table 1). Macronutrient and fiber intake, determined from food frequency questionnaires, did not differ between groups.Table 1.The regression analyses predicting ADHD symptoms scores from fecal short-chain fatty acids level.

Bp-value95%CI
Inattention score
Acetic acid-0.140.009-0.24, -0.04
Propionic acid-0.180.006-0.30, -0.06
Hyperactive/Impulsive score
Acetic acid-0.100.031-0.20, -0.01
Propionic acid-0.140.018-0.25, -0.03
Combined score
Acetic acid-0.120.014-0.22, -0.03
Propionic acid-0.160.008-0.27, -0.05

Image:

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that gut dysbiosis was possibly developed in children with ADHD, as indicated by a significant decrease in fecal SCFAs. In fact, fecal acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid may potentially be the early detector for ADHD. In addition, fecal acetic acid and propionic acid could be potential biomarkers for the severity of ADHD.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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