Randomized Double-blind Clinical Trial With L.Reuteri Supplementation in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Efficacy of Lactobacillus Reuteri in Managing Social Deficits in Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder: a Randomized Clinical Trial With Evaluation of Gut Microbiota and Metabolomics Profiles

The aim of this study is to assess the effects of a 6-months probiotic supplementation on behavioral profiles, microbiota and metabolic profiles, inflammatory biomarkers, gastrointestinal disturbances, in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) with or without GI symptoms.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: L.Reuteri; Dietary supplement: Placebo

Detailed Description

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that includes social deficits, repetitive behaviors and language difficulties; its prevalence continues to increase worldwide, however, there are no medication for the core symptoms of this disorder. In addition to these core symptoms, children with ASD are 3.5 times more likely to suffer from gastrointestinal issues than children without developmental disorders. Moreover, GI problems have been associated with changes in the microbial communities inhabiting the gut of ASD individuals.

Studies in animal models have suggested that the gut microbes can modulate central nervous system-driven behaviors.

In 2019, a research group (Buffington et al.) found that a specific strain (L. Reuteri PTA) rescues the deficit in social interaction-induced VTA plasticity in ASD mouse, enhancing the salience and rewarding value of social stimuli.

These data support the idea that microbial therapies could ameliorate specific endophenotypes associates with ASD.

Aim of the study The aim of this pilot study is to determine the possible effects of supplementation with a specific probiotic strain (L. Reuteri ATCC PTA 6475) in ASD children on the core deficits of the disorder, the social behavior. A secondary aim is to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on specific GI symptoms, and repetitive, dysfunctional behaviors, widely described in ASD children. Finally, the investigators will evaluate gut microbiota (fecal and salivary samples) and metabolomics (urinary samples) profiles differences before and after the supplementation.

Methods and participants Double blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial, with a nutritional supplement, with two parallel arms, an allocation ratio of 1:1, and a superiority framework.

The investigators aim to enroll 80 patients. A detailed informed consent will be given and and both parents will sign it before the start of the data collection.

The participants, after a first evaluation, will be divided into 2 groups; each arm will be blind randomized 1:1 to regular diet with a specific probiotic strain (L. Reuteri ATCC PTA 6475) or with placebo for 6 months.

After randomization the investigators will explain how to take the product and the first dose will be administered.

During the study the child is not allowed to take other probiotics. The type of neurologic/rehabilitation therapy ongoing at T0 cannot be changed until the study is finished.

Study Product Test product chewable tablets: 1x108 CFU Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 + 1x108 CFU Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 (together 2x108 CFU) Placebo chewable caps: identical in shape and taste to the test product without the Lactobacillus reuteri components Both study products are delivered in identical containers and labelled as XXX. Dosing: Two tablets/cps once a day.

Assessment

At the time of enrollment, each participant will undergo a comprehensive neuropsychological and biochemical evaluation, in order to establish the baseline of the primary and secondary outcome measures. A detailed Case Record Forms (CRF) containing all data pertinent to the study will be prepared.

At T0 the investigators will also collect blood, urinary salivary and fecal sample from each participant in order to perform biochemical, microbiological and metabolomics evaluation. The parents have to fill out questionnaire about dietary habits in a 5 day-diary.

After three months from the enrollment (T1), each child will undergo a second evaluation with some clinical and biological measures.

At the end of the study, six months from baseline, the investigators will perform another complete assessment through the same clinical, biochemical and neuropsychological evaluation performed at T0, to evaluate the possible changes in (1) autism symptoms severity; (2) affective and behavioral comorbid symptoms; (3) GI symptoms; (4) plasmatic, urinary and fecal biomarkers related to abnormal intestinal/inflammatory function. At T2, urinary salivary, and fecal sample will be also collected from each participant in order to perform microbiological and metabolomics evaluation.

All children recruited will undergo the evaluation at Child Neurology and Psychiatry unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 43
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Roberta Abate, MD; Phone Number: +39 3283211755; Email: robiabate@gmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Luigi Mazzone, MD, PhD; Phone Number: +39 3395969516; Email: gigimazzone@yahoo.it

Study Locations

• Italy
  • BA
    • Bari, BA, Italy, 00100
      • University of Bari
  • RM
    • Rome, RM, Italy, 00133
      • University of Rome Tor Vergata

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 1 year to 8 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Autism Spectrum Disorder (DSM-5 criteria diagnosis)

Exclusion Criteria:

• neurological syndromes (that explain autism symptoms)
• coeliac disease
• other organic GI disorder
• special diet.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: L.Reuteri; Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 + Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 two tablet by mouth 1 time per day	Dietary supplement: L.Reuteri; daily supplementation with two tablet for six months; Other Names: Gastrus
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Placebo two tablet by mouth 1 times per day	Dietary supplement: Placebo; daily supplementation with two tablet for six months

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in severity level of ASD symptomatology	Delta of scores at Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2	6 months
Changes in Microbiome Profile	Characterization of the fecal and salivary microbiota by using a metagenomic approach (amplification and sequencing of a portion of the bacterial 16S rRNA) gene. A special focus is to evaluate if there is dysbiosis, if the supplementation rescues the dysbiosis and if these changes are correlated with the gastrointestinal and behavioral symptoms	3 months and 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in GI symptoms	Delta of scores at GSRS (Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale). Higher scores are related to greater severity of symptoms	3 months and 6 months
Changes in ASD symptomatology: problematic behaviors	Delta of scores at ABC (Aberrant Behavior Checklist), a 58 item scale. Higher scores are related to greater severity of symptoms	3 months and 6 months
Changes in ASD symptomatology: repetitive behaviors	Delta of scores at RBS-R (Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised), a 43 item scale. Higher scores are related to greater severity of symptoms	3 months and 6 months
Changes in Adaptive Functioning	Delta of scores at Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-II	6 months
Changes in global ASD symptomatology	Delta of scores at SRS (Social Responsiveness Scale). Higher scores are related to greater severity of symptoms	3 months and 6 months
Changes in Behavioral Profiles	Delta of scores at CBCL (Child Behavior CheckList)	3 months and 6 months
Changes in Parental Stress	Delta of scores at PSI (Parenting Stress Index)	3 months and 6 months
Changes in Metabolomic Profile	Urinary samples collected for NMR analysis. Metabolomics profiles will be directed at biochemical processes such as neurotransmitter metabolism, gastrointestinal alterations or dysbiosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction). Furthermore, the effect of probiotic administration on the metabolome will be investigated.	6 months
Changes in Inflammatory Profile	Blood sample collected to evaluate changes in inflammatory profile (zonulin, IL-17 profile)	6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Rome Tor Vergata
• Collaborators: University of Bari
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Mazzone Luigi, MD, PhD, University of Rome Tor Vergata; Principal Investigator: Francavilla Ruggiero, MD, PhD, University of Bari

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Indrio F, Di Mauro A, Riezzo G, Civardi E, Intini C, Corvaglia L, Ballardini E, Bisceglia M, Cinquetti M, Brazzoduro E, Del Vecchio A, Tafuri S, Francavilla R. Prophylactic use of a probiotic in the prevention of colic, regurgitation, and functional constipation: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2014 Mar;168(3):228-33. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.4367.
• Sgritta M, Dooling SW, Buffington SA, Momin EN, Francis MB, Britton RA, Costa-Mattioli M. Mechanisms Underlying Microbial-Mediated Changes in Social Behavior in Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuron. 2019 Jan 16;101(2):246-259.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.11.018. Epub 2018 Dec 3.
• Vuong HE, Yano JM, Fung TC, Hsiao EY. The Microbiome and Host Behavior. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2017 Jul 25;40:21-49. doi: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-072116-031347. Epub 2017 Mar 8.
• Schieve LA, Gonzalez V, Boulet SL, Visser SN, Rice CE, Van Naarden Braun K, Boyle CA. Concurrent medical conditions and health care use and needs among children with learning and behavioral developmental disabilities, National Health Interview Survey, 2006-2010. Res Dev Disabil. 2012 Mar-Apr;33(2):467-76. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2011.10.008. Epub 2011 Nov 24.
• Lussu M, Noto A, Masili A, Rinaldi AC, Dessi A, De Angelis M, De Giacomo A, Fanos V, Atzori L, Francavilla R. The urinary 1 H-NMR metabolomics profile of an italian autistic children population and their unaffected siblings. Autism Res. 2017 Jun;10(6):1058-1066. doi: 10.1002/aur.1748. Epub 2017 Mar 11.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 30, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): August 30, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 26, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 1, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): March 3, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 28, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 27, 2023
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Microbiome; Probiotic; Metabolome; Social Behavior; Gastrointestinal Symptoms; Gut-Brain axis; L. Reuteri; Inflammatory Profile
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: Reg. Sperim. 244/19

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: all collected IPD
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: starting 6 months after publication
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No