• Neurodevelopmental context: Autism spectrum disorder or related developmental concerns.
• Behavioural and mood changes: Variations in behaviour, attention or emotional regulation where dietary influences are being explored.
• Bowel symptoms: Abdominal discomfort, irregular stools or other bowel problems.
• Food-related reactions: Suspected food allergies or adverse responses to gluten or dairy.
• Sleep disruption: Disturbed sleep patterns that may coincide with dietary factors.
• Digestive integrity concerns: Clinical suspicion of increased intestinal permeability.
• Dietary intervention monitoring: Review of gluten- or casein-free dietary approaches.

Overview

The Advanced Gut Health Screen (Urine) analyses urinary metabolites associated with dietary-derived peptides and selected microbial by-products using quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometry coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Markers include trans-indolylacryloylglycine (IAG), compounds related to gluten and casein digestion, and additional microbial metabolites.

This profile may be clinically useful when exploring possible incomplete digestion of specific dietary proteins or altered metabolism of tryptophan. The presence or absence of gluten- and casein-derived peptides can support discussion around dietary patterns, while IAG and related metabolites may provide additional context when behavioural, digestive or neurodevelopmental symptoms are present.

Practitioners typically interpret results in conjunction with dietary history, developmental profile, gastrointestinal function and any current elimination approaches. Findings may help guide structured dietary trials and inform ongoing review with clients, particularly where gluten or dairy intake is under consideration.

Practical

Practical

Please note that the new reporting format may now accommodate to testing in infants still breastfeeding or who are slowly incorporating solid foods in their diet.

Specimen requirements:

Urine

Average processing time:

10 ±4 days

Research

Research

• Anderson RJ, Bendell DJ, Garnett I, Groundwater PW, Lough WJ, Mills MJ, Savery D, Shattock PE: Identification of indolyl-3-acryloylglycine in the urine of people with autism. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2002 Feb;54(2):295-8.

• Bressan P, Kramer P. Bread and Other Edible Agents of Mental Disease. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2016;10:130.

• Bull G, Shattock P, Whiteley P, Anderson R, Groundwater PW, Lough JW, Lees G: Indolyl-3-acryloylglycine (IAG) is a putative diagnostic urinary marker for autism spectrum disorders. Med Sci Monit. 2003 Oct;9(10):CR422-5.

• Fiorentino M, Sapone A, Senger S, Camhi SS, Kadzielski SM, Buie TM, Kelly DL, Cascella N, Fasano A. Blood–brain barrier and intestinal epithelial barrier alterations in autism spectrum disorders. Molecular Autism. 2016;7(1).

• Genuis S, Bouchard T. Celiac Disease Presenting as Autism. Journal of Child Neurology. 2009;25(1):114-119.

• Ghalichi F, Ghaemmaghami J, Malek A, Ostadrahimi A. Effect of gluten free diet on gastrointestinal and behavioral indices for children with autism spectrum disorders: a randomized clinical trial. World Journal of Pediatrics. 2016;12(4):436-442.

• Knivsberg A, Reichelt K, HØien T, NØdland M. A Randomised, Controlled Study of Dietary Intervention in Autistic Syndromes. Nutritional Neuroscience. 2002;5(4):251-261.
• Pedersen L, Parlar S, Kvist K, Whiteley P, Shattock P. Data mining the ScanBrit study of a gluten- and casein-free dietary intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders: Behavioural and psychometric measures of dietary response. Nutritional Neuroscience. 2013;17(5):207-213.

• Pennesi, C. M., & Klein, L. C. (2012). Effectiveness of the gluten-free, casein-free diet for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder: Based on parental report. Nutritional Neuroscience, 15(2), 85-91.

• Saeed DU, Ishaq DM, Zil-E-Ali DA, Zafar DH, Zafar S. Peptides, Gluten, Casein And Autistic Behavior – A Review. The Professional Medical Journal. 2016;23(07):766-769.

• Whiteley P, Shattock P, Carr K, Hooper M, Todd L. How Could a Gluten- and Casein-Free Diet Ameliorate Symptoms Associated with Autism Spectrum Conditions? Autism Insights 2010:2 39–53.
• Whiteley P, Shattock P, Knivsberg A-M, et al. Gluten- and casein-free dietary intervention for autism spectrum conditions. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2012;6:344.