ABNORMAL INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

We determined the occurrence of gut mucosal damage using the intestina l permeability test in 21 autistic children who had no clinical and la boratory findings consistent with known intestinal disorders. An alter ed intestinal permeability was found in 9 of the 21 (43%) autistic pat ients, but in none of the 40 controls. Compared to the controls, these nine patients showed a similar mean mannitol recovery, but a signific antly higher mean lactulose recovery (1.64% +/- 1.43 vs 0.38% +/- 0.14 ; P < 0.001). We speculate that an altered intestinal permeability cou ld represent a possible mechanism for the increased passage through th e gut mucosa of peptides derived from foods with subsequent behavioura l abnormalities.