Nutritional Intervention in Children With Autism Using Whey Protein (Immunocal): Impact on Core Areas of Behavior

Nutritional Intervention Using Supplementation With Cysteine-Rich Whey Protein Isolate (Immunocal®) in Children With Autism: Effects in Core Areas of Behavior- A Randomized Double-Blind Study

This study will evaluate the effects of a cysteine-rich whey protein isolate supplement (Immunocal®) on autistic behavior in pre-school children with autism.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Whey Protein; Dietary supplement: Rice Protein (Placebo)

Detailed Description

Summary:

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder currently affecting as many as 1 of 150 children in the United States. Autism is considered by many to be a permanent condition with little hope for improvement. The treatment for autism is centered on special schooling and behavioral therapy; and conventional medical treatments have had little impact on ameliorating this disorder. Recent research has discovered that some autistic individuals have increased markers of oxidative stress and some degree of mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, genetic abnormalities in the glutathione pathway have been associated to autism. Thus, we are proposing that a nutritional supplement based on bovine milk serum containing cysteine-rich whey proteins serving as glutathione precursors can improve behavioral function in children with Autism.

Hypothesis:

Many children with autism have impaired antioxidant/detoxification capacity and chronic oxidative stress. Studies have also shown that autistic children show an abnormally high prevalence of glutathione deficiency. A cysteine-rich whey protein supplement demonstrated to raise glutathione levels will improve the metabolic imbalance and improve measures of autistic behavior.

Purpose:

This study will evaluate the effects of a cysteine-rich whey protein isolate supplement (Immunocal®) on autistic behavior in pre-school children with autism.

Methods:

This will be a 3 month double-blind placebo-controlled study. A total of 60 subjects will be selected/recruited and enrolled (see inclusion and exclusion criteria) to have a minimum 40 evaluable children (including estimated drop-outs) ranging in age from 3 to 5 years old to participate in the study and data recorded and collected. Children will be randomly assigned to either treatment- to the study product (Immunocal) or to the control (rice protein) for three months (20 subjects per group). Core areas of autistic behavior that will be assessed before (baseline/week 0), and at the end of treatment (week 12) are: atypical autistic behaviors and severity, communication, developmental status and behavioral problems. In addition, blood glutathione levels will be quantified before and after treatment. Side effects and adverse reactions will be compared between the two groups before (baseline/week 0) and at the end of treatment (week 12).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 81
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, 33328
      • Nova Southeastern University Clinic
    • Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, 33328
      • Nova Southeastern University, College of Pharmacy
    • Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States, 33314
      • Mailman Segal Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 3 years to 5 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of autism according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV)
• Male/female
• Aged 3-5 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Milk Allergy
• Rice allergy
• Nut Allergy
• Major medical problems including cardiac, liver endocrine or renal disease
• History of seizure disorder or gross neurological deficit
• Concomitant treatment with psychiatric medication
• Current diet supplementation with N-acetyl-cysteine, alpha lipoic acid or whey protein.
• Comorbid diagnosis: Fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, phenylketonuria or fetal alcohol syndrome
• Acute illness

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Whey Protein (Immunocal®); The experimental study group will consist of thirty children that will be treated with Immunocal® 0.5 g/kg if less than 18 kg of body weight or 10 g/day for those children over 18 kg of body weight for three months.	Dietary supplement: Whey Protein; The experimental study group will consist of thirty children that will be treated with Immunocal® 0.5 g/kg if less than 18 kg of body weight or 10 g/day for those children over 18 kg of body weight for three months to determine the supplement's effect in core areas of behavior in children with autism.; Other Names: Immunocal; Cystine-rich Whey Protein Isolate
Placebo Comparator: Placebo: Rice Protein; The control or placebo study arm will consist of thirty children who will receive a dose of 0.5 g/kg of weight a day up to 18 kg of weight a day or a dose of 10 g/day for those over 18 kg for three months.	Dietary supplement: Rice Protein (Placebo); The control or placebo study group will consist of thirty children that will be treated with rice protein (placebo) 0.5 g/kg if less than 18 kg of body weight or 10 g/day for those children over 18 kg of body weight for three months.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Behavioral Analysis	Behavioral analysis will be performed in areas of autism behaviors and severity, communication, developmental status and behavioral problems to establish the effects of a 90 day diet supplementation with a cysteine-rich whey protein isolate (Immunocal®) on autistic behavior in children with a diagnosis of autism according to DSM-IV,	Outcome measure assessed at baseline (week 0) and week 12.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Safety Analysis	Safety analyses will be conducted to identify any adverse event during the course of the study, doing so will verify the tolerability of a cysteine-rich whey protein supplement (Immunocal®) in children with autism.	Outcome measure assessed at baseline (week 0) and week 12.
Intracellular Glutathione & Antioxidant Capacity	Reduced and oxidized Glutathione levels in white blood cells will be quantified and correlated with behavioral changes in children with autism supplemented with a cysteine-rich whey protein.	Outcome measured at baseline (week 0) and week 12.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Nova Southeastern University
• Collaborators: Immunotec Inc.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ana Maria Castejon, Ph.D., College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Castejon AM, Spaw JA, Rozenfeld I, Sheinberg N, Kabot S, Shaw A, Hardigan P, Faillace R, Packer EE. Improving Antioxidant Capacity in Children With Autism: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Study With Cysteine-Rich Whey Protein. Front Psychiatry. 2021 Sep 30;12:669089. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.669089. eCollection 2021.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 2, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 2, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): June 6, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 3, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 2, 2016
• Last Verified: March 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Children; Behavior; Autism; Glutathione; Antioxidant; Whey Protein; Immunocal
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Autistic Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: 01291001F