High Phenolic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Influences the Gut-brain Axis in Individuals Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an umbrella term that incorporates a range of neurodevelopmental disorders which affect behaviour, emotion, and communication. In recent years, the effects of dietary habits in individuals with ASD have been mentioned and a distinct correlation has been observed between ASD and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. We used the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) to evaluate whether we can observe differences in behaviour by administering High Phenolic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (HP EVOO) in combination with a special diet to reduce inflammation and consequently improve behaviour. We hypothesise that ASD symptoms will soothe at a proportional rate relative to their severity. Individuals that followed the protocol showed a decrease in severity of their symptoms. Regarding data analysis, we calculated the p-values to evaluate the significance of our results. Our objective is to establish the beneficial influence that HP EVOO has on the gut-brain axis by soothing ASD symptoms.