Abstract
The gut microbiome regulates a relationship with the brain known as the gut–microbiota–brain (GMB) axis. This interaction is influenced by immune cells, microbial metabolites and neurotransmitters. Recent findings show gut dysbiosis is prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There are previously established negative correlations among vitamin D, vitamin D receptor (VDR) levels and severity of ASD as well as ADHD. Both vitamin D and VDR are known to regulate homeostasis in the brain and the intestinal microbiome. This review summarizes the growing relationship between vitamin D/VDR signalling and the GMB axis in ASD and ADHD. We focus on current publications and summarize the progress of GMB in neurodevelopmental disorders, describe effects and mechanisms of vitamin D/VDR in regulating the microbiome and synoptically highlight the potential applications of targeting vitamin D/VDR signalling in neurodevelopment disorders.
Highlights
The term ‘microbiome’ refers to the collective genomes of the microbial communities in all niches of the human body, whereas ‘microbiota’ refers to the microorganisms living in specific locations, such as the gut microbiota
The purpose of this review is to summarize the progress of GMB in neurodevelopmental disorders, describe roles of vitamin D/vitamin D receptor (VDR) in regulating the microbiome, and discuss and highlight the potential role of vitamin D/VDR signalling in the gut–brain–microbiota in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
ASD is characterized by a multitude of social deficits while ADHD is characterized by inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity [5]
Summary
The term ‘microbiome’ refers to the collective genomes of the microbial communities (bacteria, viruses and fungi) in all niches of the human body, whereas ‘microbiota’ refers to the microorganisms living in specific locations, such as the gut microbiota. ASD and ADHD could be described as gut–brain disorders due to the potential role of gut microbiota [4]. Vitamin D has regulatory roles in mucosal immunity, host defense and inflammation via VDR. This interaction involves host factors and the gut microbiome [6,7,8,9,10,11]. Vitamin D/VDR signalling is another pillar supporting the potential role of the GMB axis in the aetiology of ASD and ADHD [12,13]. Progress of GMB in neurodevelopmental disorders, describe roles of vitamin D/VDR in regulating the microbiome, and discuss and highlight the potential role of vitamin D/VDR signalling in the gut–brain–microbiota in ASD and ADHD
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