A recent British study has suggested some links between gut bacteria and the occurrence of autism.

Earlier also, autism had been associated with some metabolic abnormalities and gastrointestinal problems, including gut pain and diarrhea.

In the study, urine of the children was examined by the help of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

As many as 39 children with autism, 28 non-autistic siblings and 34 unrelated children were observed by Jeremy Nicholson and the team at Imperial College London.

They wanted to know if the metabolic changes were detectable in children's urine. It was then found that each of the groups had a distinct chemical fingerprint and those having autism had distinct differences as compared to the children not suffering from the disease.

Nicholson stated that the signature was found to be related to gut bacteria. However, it is not known whether or not the metabolic products of gut bacteria cause any advancement in autism. But this, he said, gives a base for new investigations.

Earlier as well, it was found that autistic children have exceptionally higher levels of clostridium bacteria. It was identified by Glenn Gibson of the University of Reading, UK. Commenting on the recent study, Gibson said that with this study the relationship between gut bacteria and the disorder becomes more evident.