Maternal factors contributing to variability in gut microbiota and gastrointestinal function in autism spectrum disorders

Autism spectrum disorder is a mental neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social deficits and repetitive behavior, and its development is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Furthermore, an important factor in etiology is the health status of the mother during pregnancy. Maternal health can critically affect the development of the offspring's nervous system, including the central nervous system and enteric nervous system. Unfavorable maternal health can disrupt the normal development of the offspring's nervous system in various ways, such as changes in microbiota composition. As one of the common comorbidities of autism spectrum disorder, no consistent conclusion has been drawn on how poor maternal health affects enteric nervous system and central nervous system development in offspring. From the perspective of maternal health, this review discusses how maternal status affects the gastrointestinal health of offspring and the development of mental systems to raise public awareness of maternal health and provide a new idea for eugenics and childbearing.