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 1293

Subject Categories

Pediatrics

Other Clinical Medicine

Neurology

DOI

10.3390/nu15051293

PubMed

36904292

More information

Latest update

3/23/2023