Investigation of the relation between anaerobic bacteria genus clostridium and late-onset autism etiology in children.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between the etiology of late-onset childhood autism and anaerobic bacteria. Thirty children diagnosed with autistic disorder and control group have been included in the study. 3-(3-hydroxy phenyl)-3-hydroxypropionic acid (HPHPA) excretion rates which is a metabolic product of the genus Clostridium, were measured via mass spectrometry-gas chromatography (MS-GC) method from urine samples. When the assayed average HPHPA values compared with each group, a statistically significant difference was found (p < 0.05). Data obtained from this study support the existence of a significant correlation between autism etiology and anaerobic bacteria.