Effects of a Synbiotic on Plasma Immune Activity Markers and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Children and Adults with ADHD—A Randomized Controlled Trial
Journal article, 2023
Synbiotic 2000, a pre + probiotic, reduced comorbid autistic traits and emotion dysregulation in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients. Immune activity and bacteria-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are microbiota–gut–brain axis mediators. The aim was to investigate Synbiotic 2000 effects on plasma levels of immune activity markers and SCFAs in children and adults with ADHD. ADHD patients (n = 182) completed the 9-week intervention with Synbiotic 2000 or placebo and 156 provided blood samples. Healthy adult controls (n = 57) provided baseline samples. At baseline, adults with ADHD had higher pro-inflammatory sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 and lower SCFA levels than controls. Children with ADHD had higher baseline sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, IL-12/IL-23p40, IL-2Rα, and lower formic, acetic, and propionic acid levels than adults with ADHD. sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and propionic acid levels were more abnormal in children on medication. Synbiotic 2000, compared to placebo, reduced IL-12/IL-23p40 and sICAM-1 and increased propionic acid levels in children on medication. SCFAs correlated negatively with sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. Preliminary human aortic smooth-muscle-cell experiments indicated that SCFAs protected against IL-1β-induced ICAM-1 expression. These findings suggest that treatment with Synbiotic 2000 reduces IL12/IL-23p40 and sICAM-1 and increases propionic acid levels in children with ADHD. Propionic acid, together with formic and acetic acid, may contribute to the lowering of the higher-than-normal sICAM-1 levels.
ICAM-1
IL-12
psychostimulants
VCAM-1
propionic acid
acetic acid
Author
Liu L. Yang
Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska University Hospital
Miranda Stiernborg
Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska University Hospital
Elin Skott
Karolinska University Hospital
Karolinska Institutet
PRIMA Psychiatry AB
Jingjing Xu
Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska University Hospital
Yujiao Wu
Karolinska Institutet
Rikard Landberg
Chalmers, Life Sciences, Food and Nutrition Science
Samsul Arefin
Karolinska Institutet
Karolina Kublickiene
Karolinska Institutet
Vincent Millischer
Medical University of Vienna
Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska University Hospital
Ida A.K. Nilsson
Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska University Hospital
Martin Schalling
Karolinska Institutet
Karolinska University Hospital
Mai Britt Giacobini
Karolinska University Hospital
PRIMA Psychiatry AB
Karolinska Institutet
Catharina Lavebratt
Karolinska University Hospital
Karolinska Institutet
Nutrients
2072-6643 (ISSN) 20726643 (eISSN)
Vol. 15 5 1293Subject Categories
Pediatrics
Other Clinical Medicine
Neurology
DOI
10.3390/nu15051293
PubMed
36904292