Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-18-2025

Publication Title

Nutrients

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition associated with behavioral and cognitive impairments. Increasing evidence also links ASD with systemic immune dysregulation, including abnormal cytokine profiles and chronic low-grade inflammation. Emerging evidence suggests that targeted dietary strategies and probiotic supplementation may modulate immune responses and gut–brain interactions in patients with ASD. This study aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of a structured anti-inflammatory diet (NeuroGutPlus) compared to multi-strain probiotics in children with ASD. NeuroGutPlus is a nutritionally complete anti-inflammatory dietary protocol that targets gut integrity, inflammation, and mitochondrial function. It includes a diet low in gluten, FODMAPs, casein, and artificial additives, and a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, and fermentable fibers. Methods: A total of 30 children with ASD and 12 neurotypical controls were enrolled in a 12-week randomized controlled nutritional trial. Participants received either a NeuroGutPlus anti-inflammatory diet, probiotic supplementation (16 strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium), or no intervention. Plasma levels of 20 cytokines and chemokines were measured pre- and post-intervention using multiplex Luminex immunoassays. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to explore shifts in the immune profile. Results: Patients treated with the NeuroGutPlus diet significantly reduced IFN-γ levels (p = 0.0090) and showed a stabilizing effect on immune profiles, as evidenced by PCA clustering. Probiotic supplementation led to a significant increase in IL-8 (+66.6 pg/mL; p = 0.0350) and MIP-1β (+74.5 pg/mL; p = 0.0100), along with a decrease in IFN-γ (p = 0.0070), suggesting reconfiguration of innate immune responses. Eight out of eleven biomarkers showed significant post-intervention differences between groups, indicating distinct immunological effects. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that anti-inflammatory diets exert broader and more consistent immunoregulatory effects than probiotics alone in children with ASD. These findings support the inclusion of precision dietary strategies as non-pharmacological interventions to mitigate immune-related dysfunction in patients with ASD.

PubMed ID

40871692

Volume

17

Issue

16

Publisher

MDPI

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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