Sulforaphane Treatment of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

ASD is a diverse disorder starting in early childhood and characterized by social communication impairment as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. It affects 1:68 children and is an enormous medical and economic problem for which there is no established, mechanism-based treatment. Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate derived from broccoli, and has potent activity in transcriptionally up-regulating genes that control mechanisms whereby aerobic cells protect themselves against oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation.

This study is a clinical trial of oral sulforaphane (as broccoli seed powder) in 50 boys and girls (3-12 years) with ASD in 3 phases over 36 weeks. In Phase 1, 25 children will receive active drug and 25 will receive placebo for 15 weeks; in Phase 2, all children will receive sulforaphane from 15-30 weeks; in Phase 3, children will receive no treatment for 6 weeks. Study visits will take place at screening, 7, 15, 22, 30 and 36 weeks, when the Ohio Autism Clinical Clinical Impressions Scale - Severity and Improvement (OACIS-S and OACIS-I), Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) will be recorded. Children will be monitored with physical examinations and for toxicity with clinical laboratory studies and examine possible biomarkers: Nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2 (Nrf2), oxidative stress and mitochondrial function, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and cytokine expression. In addition, prior to the main clinical trial, a pilot study will be carried out in 10 children with ASD, 6-12 years of age, who will receive sulforaphane, 2.2 micromoles/kg daily for 14 days. Blood and urine samples before and at the end of treatment will be collected, in order to measure several parameters that are likely to demonstrate expected effects of sulforaphane, to standardize the assays and procedures, and to determine the most effective measures.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Sulforaphane; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

Background: ASD is a diverse disorder starting in early childhood and characterized by social communication impairment as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. It affects 1:68 children and is an enormous medical and economic problem for which there is no established, mechanism-based treatment. Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate derived from broccoli, and has potent activity in transcriptionally up-regulating genes that control mechanisms whereby aerobic cells protect themselves against oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation.

Hypothesis: Based on the observation that fever is frequently associated with behavioral improvements in children with ASD, it is hypothesized that sulforaphane might lead to functional improvements in ASD because it can up-regulate cell-protective responses, such as heat shock proteins and related mechanisms that are also up-regulated during fever. These mechanisms are central to multiple cellular processes in the central nervous system, including synaptic transmission, and may improve long-range cerebral cortical connectivity, which is depressed in ASD.

Specific aims: The 3 specific aims in this study are: 1) To determine if there are measurable effects on social responsiveness and problem behaviors during treatment of children with sulforaphane; 2) To determine if treatment with sulforaphane in children is safe and well tolerated; and 3) To elucidate cellular biomarkers that respond to treatment with sulforaphane.

Design: This is a randomized, double blind, single-arm crossover phase 1/2 clinical trial of orally administered sulforaphane (as broccoli seed powder) in 50 boys and girls (3-12 years) with ASD in 3 phases over 36 weeks.

In Phase 1, 25 children will receive active drug and 25 will receive placebo for 15 weeks; in Phase 2, all children will receive sulforaphane from 15-30 weeks; in Phase 3, children will receive no treatment for 6 weeks. Study visits will take place at screening, 7, 15, 22, 30 and 36 weeks, when the Ohio Autism Clinical Clinical Impressions Scale - Severity and Improvement (OACIS-S and OACIS-I), Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) will be recorded.

The children will be monitored with physical examinations and for toxicity with clinical laboratory studies and examine possible biomarkers: Nrf2, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function, mTOR pathway and cytokine expression.

In addition, prior to the main clinical trial, a pilot study will be performed in 10 children with ASD, 6-12 years of age, who will receive sulforaphane, 2.2 micromoles/kg daily for 14 days. Blood and urine samples before and at the end of treatment will be collected, in order to measure several parameters that are likely to demonstrate expected effects of sulforaphane, to standardize the assays and procedures, and to determine the most effective measures.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, 01655
      • University of Massachusetts Medical School

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 3 years to 12 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis of moderate or greater severity
• Age 3 through 12 years inclusive

Exclusion Criteria:

• Absence of a parent or legal guardian and consent
• Inability to speak/understand English language
• Seizure within 1 year of screening: This exclusion is based on the theoretical concern that cellular activation by sulforaphane might exacerbate seizures in patients with known seizure disorders. As noted in our previous trial of sulforaphane in young adult males, a seizure occurred in each of 2 participants: one during treatment (in a participant with a previously undisclosed seizure), the other 3 weeks after discontinuing sulforaphane.
• Impaired renal function (serum creatinine > 1.2 mg/dl), impaired hepatic function (SGOT/SGPT> 2x upper limit of normal), impaired thyroid function (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) outside normal limits): This exclusion is based on a theoretical possibility of activation of underlying cellular metabolic abnormalities by sulforaphane. Current infection or treatment with antibiotics: this exclusion is to avoid complications of inter-current illness that may occur due to the clinical trial or obscure possible effects of sulforaphane.
• Medications that may modify the course or testing of ASD parameters (e.g., prednisone): This exclusion is necessary in order not to interfere with or complicate effects of sulforaphane.
• Chronic medical disorder (e.g., cardiovascular disease, stroke or diabetes) or major surgery within 3 months prior to enrollment: Serious medical illness in the child may be complicated by the clinical trial and make it difficult to discern a change in ASD associated with treatment.
• Less than 3 years or more than 13 years of age: this age range was selected to cover the ages from usual diagnosis of ASD up to adolescence.
• A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder of mild severity (for example, earlier categories of Asperger disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)), according to Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) criteria.
• Prisoners
• Pregnant women

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Sulforaphane; Sulforaphane (SF) will be administered once a day orally in an approximate dose of 1 µmol/lb (2.2 kg µmol/kg) body weight. Each SF tablet will contain 125 mg broccoli seed powder (equivalent to ~ 15 µmol SF). The total dose per day will depend on participants' body weight: 30-50 lb: 3 tablets (45 µmol/day) 50-70 lb: 4 tablets (60 µmol/day) 70-90 lb: 6 tablets (90 µmol/day) 90-110 lb: 7 tablets (105 µmol/day) 110-130 lb: 8 tablets (120 µmol/day) For pilot study, all participants (n=10) will receive SF for 14 days. For main clinical trial, 25 participants will randomly receive SF for 15 weeks (phase 1). During phase 2, a single-arm crossover from placebo to sulforaphane arm will take place, and all participants will receive SF from 15-30 weeks.	Drug: Sulforaphane; See under active arm description
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Placebo tablets identical in size and similar in appearance to the active tablets will be used. Number of placebo tablets will be equivalent to the active tablets depending on participants' body weight. For the main clinical trial, 25 participants will be randomly allocated to receive placebo for 15 weeks (phase 1). During phase 2, a single-arm crossover from placebo arm to sulforaphane arm will take place, and all participants will receive sulforaphane from 15-30 weeks.	Drug: Placebo; See under placebo arm description

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Ohio Autism Clinical Impressions Scale - Improvement (OACIS-I) Average Score From Baseline	The Ohio Autism Clinical Impressions Scale-Severity (OACIS-S) rates severity of symptoms in 10 categories: general level of autism, social interaction, aberrant and repetitive behavior, verbal and nonverbal communication, hyperactivity, anxiety, sensory sensitivities and restricted and narrow interests. Each category is rated from 1 (normal) to 7 (most severe). The OACIS-S was a reference at follow up visits when the OACIS-Improvement was compared to the OACIS-S, from 1 to 7: 4 was no change; 3 to 1 minimal to marked improvement and 5 to 7 minimal to marked worsening. The numerical score of the OACIS-S is independent and unrelated quantitatively to the OACIS-I. For analysis, the OACIS-I general score and subscale values were recoded, in which 4 (no change) was recoded as 0; 3 to 1 were recoded as +1 to +3 to denote improvement, and 5 to 7 were recoded as -1 to -3 for worsening.	7 weeks, 15 weeks, 22 weeks, 30 weeks, 36 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
OACIS-I Response Rate on Aberrant Behaviors Subscale	See above in the primary outcome measure for a description of OACIS-I scale. This section describes the change from baseline of the OACIS-I subdomain of aberrant behaviors. This subdomain has a range of 1 to 7 - 1 is extremely improved from baseline, 7 is extremely worse from baseline, and 4 is no change. For analysis, the OACIS-I general score and subscale values were recoded, in which 4 (no change) was recoded as 0; 3 to 1 were recoded as +1 to +3 to denote improvement, and 5 to 7 were recoded as -1 to -3 for worsening.	7 weeks, 15 weeks, 22 weeks, 30 weeks, 36 weeks
OACIS-I Response Rate on Social Communication Subscale	See above in the primary outcome measure for a description of OACIS-I scale. This section describes the change from baseline of the OACIS-I subdomain of social communication. This subdomain has a range of 1 to 7 - 1 is extremely improved from baseline, 7 is extremely worse from baseline, and 4 is no change. For analysis, the OACIS-I general score and subscale values were recoded, in which 4 (no change) was recoded as 0; 3 to 1 were recoded as +1 to +3 to denote improvement, and 5 to 7 were recoded as -1 to -3 for worsening.	7 weeks, 15 weeks, 22 weeks, 30 weeks, 36 weeks
Change in Total Aberrant Behavior Checklist Score From Baseline	Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) is a 58 item scale that primarily evaluates how aberrant or abnormal a patient's daily behaviors are. The items evaluate behaviors as they pertain to irritability, lethargy/social withdrawal, stereotypic behavior, hyperactivity/noncompliance, and inappropriate speech. Each item is scored on a scale of 0 to 3, with 0 being better outcome and 3 being worse outcome. The score from each item is added up to calculate a total score. This outcome describes change in total ABC score from baseline at each follow up visit. The scores from all items are added to calculate a total score (0 to 174). This outcome describes change in total ABC score from baseline at each follow up visit.	7 weeks, 15 weeks, 22 weeks, 30 weeks, 36 weeks
Change in Total SRS-2 Score From Baseline	The Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) is a 65-item scale that measures total scores as well as subscales: four social behaviors (awareness, cognition, communication and motivation) and autistic mannerisms. Each item is rated from 1 to 4 (not true to almost always true) on worksheets that are blinded to the rater with respect to values. Total and subscale scores are calculated as raw scores and can be converted to T-scores. Raw scores (range 0-180) are reported here (unadjusted for general population, since all children had ASD). Higher or lower values at follow up visits compared to baseline indicated worsening or improvement, respectively.	7 weeks, 15 weeks, 22 weeks, 30 weeks, 36 weeks
Dithiocarbamate Plasma Concentration Detected by Cyclocondensation at Each Visit	Sulforaphane (and other isothiocyanates, ITC) are conjugated by glutathione (GSH) which then undergoes further enzymatic modifications to give rise sequentially to the cysteinylglycine-, cysteine- and N-acetylcysteine-ITC conjugates, all of which are dithiocarbamates (DTC) and are detected in the cyclocondensation reaction-HPLC assay.	Week 0, Week 7, Week 15, Week 22, Week 30, Week 36
Comparison of Free Reduced Glutathione (GSH), Total GSH, Oxidized Glutathione (GSSG) at Week 0 and 15	F-statistic calculated by comparison of Free Reduced GSH, Total GSH and oxidized Glutathione (GSSG) of Week 15 to Week 0.	Week 0 and Week 15
Free GSH:GSSG and Total GSH:GSSG Ratios at Week 15	Ratios of free GSH:GSSG and total GSH:GSSG were calculated by obtaining ratios of f-statistic scores from baseline to week 15 between free reduced GSH and GSSG and between total GSH and GSSG.	Week 15

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
NQO1: NAD(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase-1	Cytoprotective enzyme regulated by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), the master regulator of cellular redox homeostasis and an inhibitor of a key pro-inflammatory pathway, of which both functions are critical factors in the neuropathology of ASD. Total cellular RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and complementary DNAs (cDNA) were synthesized. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed using the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio™ 3 Real-Time PCR System (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Relative mRNA expression was normalized to GAPDH. Gene expression was calculated using the comparative 2-ΔΔCT method.	Week 0, Week 15, Week 30
xCT	xCT (SLC7A11): Cystine/glutamate antiporter encoded by the SLC7A11 gene.Total cellular RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and complementary DNAs (cDNA) were synthesized. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed using the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio™ 3 Real-Time PCR System (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Relative mRNA expression was normalized to GAPDH. Gene expression was calculated using the comparative 2-ΔΔCT method.	Week 0, Week 15, Week 30
HO-1 (Heme Oxygenase 1)	HO-1 (heme oxygenase 1): an essential and Nrf2-dependent enzyme in heme catabolism. Total cellular RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and complementary DNAs (cDNA) were synthesized. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed using the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio™ 3 Real-Time PCR System (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Relative mRNA expression was normalized to GAPDH. Gene expression was calculated using the comparative 2-ΔΔCT method.	Week 0, Week 15, Week 30
HSP70	HSP70 (Heat shock protein 70) was examined because it is upregulated by SF in vitro. Total cellular RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and complementary DNAs (cDNA) were synthesized. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed using the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio™ 3 Real-Time PCR System (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Relative mRNA expression was normalized to GAPDH. Gene expression was calculated using the comparative 2-ΔΔCT method.	Week 0, Week 15, Week 30
HSP27	HSP27 (Heat shock protein 27) was examined because it is upregulated by SF in vitro. Total cellular RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and complementary DNAs (cDNA) were synthesized. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed using the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio™ 3 Real-Time PCR System (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Relative mRNA expression was normalized to GAPDH. Gene expression was calculated using the comparative 2-ΔΔCT method.	Week 0, Week 15, Week 30.
IL-6	IL-6 (interleukin 6) cytokine gene expression, a nuclear factor-kappa B - regulated inflammatory biomarker. Total cellular RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and complementary DNAs (cDNA) were synthesized. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed using the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio™ 3 Real-Time PCR System (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Relative mRNA expression was normalized to GAPDH. Gene expression was calculated using the comparative 2-ΔΔCT method.	Week 0, Week 15, Week 30
IL-1β	IL-1β: Interleukin-1 beta cytokine gene expression, a nuclear factor-kappa B - regulated inflammatory biomarker. Total cellular RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and complementary DNAs (cDNA) were synthesized. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed using the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio™ 3 Real-Time PCR System (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Relative mRNA expression was normalized to GAPDH. Gene expression was calculated using the comparative 2-ΔΔCT method.	Week 0, Week 15, Week 30
Cox-2	Cox-2 (cyclooxygenase-2): a nuclear factor-kappa B - regulated inflammatory biomarker. Total cellular RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and complementary DNAs (cDNA) were synthesized. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed using the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio™ 3 Real-Time PCR System (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Relative mRNA expression was normalized to GAPDH. Gene expression was calculated using the comparative 2-ΔΔCT method.	Week 0, Week 15, Week 30
TNF-α	TNF-α (Tumor necrosis factor alpha), a cytokine as inflammatory biomarker. Total cellular RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and complementary DNAs (cDNA) were synthesized. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed using the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio™ 3 Real-Time PCR System (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Relative mRNA expression was normalized to GAPDH. Gene expression was calculated using the comparative 2-ΔΔCT method.	Week 0, Week 15, Week 30

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester
• Collaborators: Johns Hopkins University; Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Andrew W Zimmerman, MD, University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Singh K, Connors SL, Macklin EA, Smith KD, Fahey JW, Talalay P, Zimmerman AW. Sulforaphane treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Oct 28;111(43):15550-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1416940111. Epub 2014 Oct 13.
• Liu H, Zimmerman AW, Singh K, Connors SL, Diggins E, Stephenson KK, Dinkova-Kostova AT, Fahey JW. Biomarker Exploration in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells for Monitoring Sulforaphane Treatment Responses in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Sci Rep. 2020 Apr 2;10(1):5822. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-62714-4.
• Zimmerman AW, Singh K, Connors SL, Liu H, Panjwani AA, Lee LC, Diggins E, Foley A, Melnyk S, Singh IN, James SJ, Frye RE, Fahey JW. Randomized controlled trial of sulforaphane and metabolite discovery in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Mol Autism. 2021 May 25;12(1):38. doi: 10.1186/s13229-021-00447-5. Erratum In: Mol Autism. 2021 Jun 16;12(1):44.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): January 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 24, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 24, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): September 28, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 17, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 15, 2020
• Last Verified: December 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Autistic Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Antineoplastic Agents; Protective Agents; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Sulforaphane
• Other Study ID Numbers: H00007832; AR140087 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No