A cannabis extract increased production of a beneficial gut metabolite while reducing ammonia levels and an inflammatory marker in laboratory research involving intestinal bacteria collected from children with autism, according to a new study published in Nutrients.
The study, published November 10, was conducted by researchers from the University of Araraquara and other institutions in Brazil and France. It examined whether compounds from cannabis could influence gut bacterial metabolism and inflammatory responses associated with autism spectrum disorder.
Researchers collected fecal samples from 20 children, including 10 diagnosed with autism and 10 neurotypical children. Samples from each group were combined separately and exposed to three concentrations of a standardized cannabis extract: 0.02, 0.10 and 0.50 milligrams per milliliter.
The samples underwent 48 hours of controlled anaerobic fermentation, allowing researchers to observe how the extract influenced bacterial activity under conditions designed to simulate aspects of the human colon. They measured microbial composition, ammonia production and several short-chain fatty acids involved in intestinal health.
Among samples collected from children with autism, cannabis extract exposure increased concentrations of butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that helps nourish intestinal cells and regulate inflammatory processes. Researchers also recorded reductions in acetate and ammonia, while propionate concentrations remained largely unchanged.
The changes occurred without substantial alterations in overall bacterial diversity, suggesting that the extract influenced how existing gut microorganisms functioned rather than dramatically changing the composition of the microbial community.
Researchers also examined the effects of the fermented samples on laboratory-grown intestinal and immune cells. At the highest cannabis extract concentration, they observed significantly reduced levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), an inflammatory signaling protein involved in immune responses.
Other inflammatory markers, including IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10, did not change significantly. The researchers also found that the extract did not significantly alter intestinal barrier integrity and showed low toxicity in the intestinal cells at the concentrations tested.
The findings are relevant to ongoing research into the gut-brain connection in autism, particularly the potential role of intestinal microorganisms and their metabolic products in inflammation and neurological function.
Although the research used samples collected from children, cannabis extract was not administered to any participants, and changes in autism symptoms were not evaluated. The experiments instead examined bacterial fermentation and cellular responses under controlled laboratory conditions.
Researchers concluded that cannabis extract can influence microbial metabolism and certain inflammatory responses, providing a basis for further investigation into how cannabinoids interact with the gut microbiome.
