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New Study Says Fecal Transplant May Aid Autism Treatment

  • January 27, 2017

An ongoing study on the use of human feces for severe gastrointestinal problems may point to a new tool in autism treatment, HealthAim reports. Researchers said a significant improvement was noticed in children with autism after receiving fecal transplants, highlighting a potential link between the gut and the brain with autism.

The importance of healthy gut bacteria for the prevention and treatment of so-called “incurable” neurological disorders has been my radar for several years. Your body is colonized by a vast array of microorganisms that modulate every aspect of your health and physiology, and you can optimize your health by nourishing and protecting these microbes.

Gut bacteria manufacture neurochemicals such as dopamine and serotonin, along with vitamins that are important for brain health. Beneficial bacteria act to prevent leaky gut, which appears to be at the root of most autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders. The easiest way to improve the makeup of this bacteria is to include traditionally fermented foods in your diet, but the ongoing evidence that a fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) may also help cannot be denied.

It’s important NOT to try FMT on your own, however: Your physician should always be the one to perform such a procedure. Meanwhile, if you have gastrointestinal problems, one way to optimize your gut health is to regularly consume traditionally fermented foods, such as fermented vegetables, lassi, kefir and natto. Avoiding sugar/fructose and processed foods is another essential step. Processed foods also promote bad bacteria — partly due to the high fructose content in them.