SCFA producing bacteria shape the subtype of ADHD in children

Abstract There is little data on population-based identification of the gut microbiota with ADHD subtypes in children, yet whether the degree ADHD is characterized by short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) remains unclear. We enrolled 59 ADHD children including 21 inattentive subtypes (ADHD-I), 20 combined subtypes (ADHD-C), 18 hyperactive-Impulsive subtypes (ADHD-H) and 23 healthy controls. The microbiota was characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and SCFA concentrations were determined by gas chromatographic analysis. Compared to the controls, we observed a decrease of 14 genera belonging to Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Verrucomicrobiaceae and Rikenellaceae family in ADHD-I, while Megamonas, Coprococcus_2 and Paraprevotella were significantly increased in ADHD-C. In addition, a lower abundance of Faecalibacterium, and a higher proportion of Marvinbryantia, Intestinimonas, Prevotella_9 and Eggerthella were detected in the ADHD-H. Analysis of fecal SCFAs showed that elevated levels of acetate and propionate were in ADHD subtypes. Furthermore, most of the bacterium associated with SCFAs overlapped with the differential bacterium in ADHD subtypes. Conclusion: Our data support the clinical distinction among different ADHD subtypes in children may also be reflected in alterations of specific gut microbiota, most of which are SCFA producing bacteria.