Oxytocin Effects on Bone in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (BOX)

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study of Intranasal Oxytocin for Bone Health in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

This is a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of intranasal oxytocin on bone health in children with autism spectrum disorder, ages 6-18 years old. Subjects will be randomized to receive intranasal oxytocin or placebo (30 IU, 2 times daily) for 12 months in the double-blind phase, followed by a 6-month open label phase during which all study subjects will receive intranasal oxytocin (30 IU, 2 times daily). Study visits include screening to determine eligibility, followed by study visits at baseline, week 2, and months 6, 12, 18 and phone calls every two weeks for the first two months and monthly thereafter for the duration of the study. Study assessments include history and physical examinations, anthropometric measurements, electrocardiogram (EKG), adverse event monitoring, laboratory tests for chemistries, hormones and biomarkers for bone metabolism, questionnaires regarding diet and exercise, and imaging to assess body composition, bone density and structure.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Bone Health
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: 1. Intranasal oxytocin spray; Drug: 3. Intranasal Oxytocin spray; Drug: 2. Intranasal placebo spray

Detailed Description

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a group of behaviorally-defined disorders characterized by impaired social interactions and verbal and non-verbal communication, is increasing among children. Studies have shown that children with ASD are at a higher risk for low bone mineral density and fractures. ASD is also characterized by low levels of oxytocin (OXT), a peptide hormone with prosocial effects. In addition, OXT promotes bone formation over resorption and low levels of OXT are associated with poor bone health. Hence, OXT administration represents a potential strategy for improving bone health in children with ASD, particularly during the childhood and adolescent years when bone accrual peaks.

The investigators aim to examine (i) whether intranasal OXT administration vs. placebo increases areal bone mineral density (BMD) and improves overall bone health in children with ASD, and (ii) other pathways whereby OXT may impact bone health favorably.

The investigators will enroll 96 participants 6-18 years old with ASD and randomize them into the intranasal oxytocin vs. placebo groups. The study subjects will undergo history and physical examinations, anthropometric measurements, electrocardiogram (EKG), adverse event monitoring, laboratory tests for chemistries, hormones and biomarkers for bone metabolism, questionnaires regarding diet and exercise, and imaging to assess body composition, bone density and structure.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 96
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Madhusmita Misra, MD, MPH; Phone Number: 434-924-9141; Email: ABP6BD@uvahealth.org
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Sarah Smith, DNP; Phone Number: 617-726-3870; Email: mghboxstudy@mgb.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
      • Recruiting
      • Massachusetts General Hospital
      • Contact: Sarah Smith, DNP; Phone Number: 617-726-3870; Email: mghboxstudy@mgb.org
      • Principal Investigator: Elizabeth A Lawson, MD
  • Virginia
    • Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, 22903
      • Recruiting
      • University of Virginia Medical Center
      • Contact: Andrea Marrs, MS; Phone Number: 434-982-0871; Email: misralab@uvahealth.org
      • Principal Investigator: Madhusmita Misra, MD,MPH

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 6 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Ages 6 to 18 years old at Randomization
2. BMI greater than or equal to the 5th percentile
3. Expert clinical diagnosis of ASD
4. Availability of parent/guardian to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Fragile X, tuberous sclerosis, William's syndrome, Angelman's syndrome, Noonan syndrome, and other single gene defects that are syndromic and affect heart or bone density
2. Other conditions that may contribute to low bone density (e.g., hypogonadism)
3. Medications that may impact bone other than calcium or vitamin D supplementation, other than calcium or vitamin D supplementation, such as specific anti-seizure medications (Phenytoin, Phenobarbital), oral glucocorticoids, hormonal contraceptive injection (Medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera)
4. Hyponatremia
5. Liver enzymes (AST, ALT, and Bilirubin) more than three times the upper limit of the normal range
6. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60
7. Substance use disorder within the last 6 months
8. History of known coronary artery disease, heart failure, reduced ejection fraction, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ventricular arrhythmias, or prolonged QT (QTc greater than or equal to 480 msec)
9. Active seizures within 6 months preceding the Screening visit or the Baseline visit
10. Subjects who are pregnant, lactating, or who refuse contraception if sexually active
11. Subjects who have had previous treatment with OXT (within 2 months of Randomization)
12. Subjects who are not able to cooperate with medication administration, blood drawing, or imaging procedures despite behavior training
13. Caregivers who are unable to speak English, be consistently present at study visits to report on symptoms or, per the judgement of the data collection team, are unable to comply with the protocol
14. Any significant illness, condition, medication, or medical device that the Investigator determines could interfere with study participation and impact data collection or subject safety

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 1. Intranasal Oxytocin; Intranasal oxytocin spray (30 IU twice daily) for 12 months in the double-blinded phase followed by intranasal oxytocin spray (30 IU twice daily) for 6-months in the open-label phase	Drug: 1. Intranasal oxytocin spray; 30 IU, twice daily for 12 months in the experimental arm in double-blinded phase; Drug: 3. Intranasal Oxytocin spray; 30 IU, twice daily for 6 months in both experimental and placebo comparator arm in open-label phase
Placebo Comparator: 2. Placebo; Intranasal placebo spray (30 IU twice daily (total 60 IU per day) for 12 months followed by intranasal oxytocin spray (30 IU twice daily) for 6-months in the open-label phase	Drug: 3. Intranasal Oxytocin spray; 30 IU, twice daily for 6 months in both experimental and placebo comparator arm in open-label phase; Drug: 2. Intranasal placebo spray; 30 IU, twice daily for 12 months in the placebo comparator arm in double-blinded phase

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Difference between IN OXT vs placebo in 12-month change in whole body less head BMD Z-scores.	12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Difference between IN OXT vs placebo in 12-month change in radial and tibial cortical area and radial trabecular thickness.	12 months
Difference between IN OXT vs placebo in 12-month change in radial and tibial failure load.	12 months
Difference between IN OXT vs placebo in 12-month change in bone turnover markers, cortisol.	12 months
Difference between IN OXT vs placebo in 12-month change in lean mass and muscle area	12 months
Difference between IN OXT vs placebo in 12-month change in areal BMD Z-score at the femoral neck.	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Elizabeth Austen Lawson
• Collaborators: United States Department of Defense; University of Virginia
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Elizabeth A Lawson, MD, Neuroendocrine Unit Massachusetts General Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 22, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): March 3, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 2, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2026
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Oxytocin; Bone density; Autism spectrum disorder; Peri-pubertal children
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Reproductive Control Agents; Oxytocics; Oxytocin
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2023P000307

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

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

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No