Publication details
Faecal inflammatory protein markers in children with autism spectrum disorder are comparable to their healthy siblings
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Peer-reviewed scientific article |
| Magazine / Source | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1792801/full |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1792801 |
| Keywords | alpha-1-antitrypsin; autism spectrum disorder; calprotectin; immunoglobulin A; siblings; stool samples |
| Attached files | |
| Description | Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition often accompanied by gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Inflammatory proteins in stool have been proposed as potential biomarkers, but evidence remains inconsistent. We compared fecal levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin (A1AT), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and calprotectin (Cal) in 57 children with ASD and 57 biological siblings without ASD. Sibling designs are now preferred to disentangle ASD-specific biology from shared environmental and microbiome factors. Participants were carefully screened to exclude recent antibiotic use, digestive problems, gastrointestinal infections, and abnormal dietary patterns, thereby controlling for major factors known to influence gut inflammatory markers. |