Autism Spectrum DisorderNCT05151601
Combined Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) and Probiotics Intervention for Children With Autism
A study testing Experimental in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, run by The University of Queensland at 1 site in Australia.
Trial summary
This research project will investigate if a supplement containing a unique combination of prebiotics and probiotics can influence behaviour in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 5 to 12 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Anxiety
- What is being tested?
- Experimental
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteAustralia
- Study dates
- 17 May 2022to 31 Dec 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 5 to 12 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Aged 5.00 years to 12.99 years.
- A confirmed diagnosis of ASD or Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) including autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder (AS); PDD not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS); and atypical autism.
Who cannot join
- Organic GI disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, eosinophilic disorders, or current infection of the GI tract.
- Bowel surgery or short bowel syndrome
- Participants who have a diagnosed cow milk protein allergy.
- Participants who suffer from the conditions listed below or who are taking any of the following medications or supplements:
- antibiotics or antifungals in the last two months
- probiotic supplements in the last two months
Show all 9Show fewer
- immunocompromised or severely ill
- genetic disorders (e.g. Fragile X Syndrome)
- chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or an eating disorder.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Australia1 site
University of Queensland, Child Health Research Centre
Brisbane, Queensland, 4001
About this study
Official title: The Effect of a Combination of Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) and Probiotics on Behavioural Change in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
This research project will investigate if a supplement containing a unique combination of prebiotics and probiotics can influence behaviour in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The study will use a combination of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs, prebiotics) and probiotics as an oral powder.This clinical trial will have two consecutive phases. Phase 1A is an 8-week randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Participants will be recruited and randomised (1:1) to receive either the investigational product (treatment group, n=30) or the placebo (control group, n=30). Phase 1B is an 8-week open-label study. All participants that complete Phase 1A will move into Phase 1B (n=60). This allows all participants to receive the investigational product and will provide additional information on increased duration of treatment.
- Being tested
- Experimental, Placebo
- Keywords
- Gut microbiome, Behaviour
- Medical subject headings
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ExperimentalDietary supplement
2 x sachets per day
PlaceboOther
2 x sachets per day
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| HMOs + Probiotics | Experimental | Dosing: A total daily dose of 2 x sachets (6g/day)
Product Comprised of:
1. 2.5g of a proprietary blend of human milk oligosaccharides combined with
2. 20 billion CFUs of a mixture of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium animalis spp. lactis, and Bifidobacterium longum.
Mode of administration: oral. Receives: Dietary Supplement: Experimental |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Dosing: A total daily dose of 2 x sachets (6g/day)u (8 weeks of phase 1A). Product: powdered maltodextrin. Mode of administration: oral. Receives: Other: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Behaviour change
Changes in behavioural symptoms as measured by the Irritability sub-scale of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist - Community (Version 2) (I-ABC). The ABC 58-item parent-rated questionnaire and consists of five subscales, including: 1) irritability (15 items); 2) lethargy/social withdrawal (16 items); 3) stereotypic behaviour (7 items); 4) hyperactivity/noncompliance (16 items); and 5) inappropriate speech (4 items). Each item is scored as 0=never a problem, 1=slight problem, 2=moderately serious problem, or 3=severe problem. The score range is 0-174, with a higher score indicating greater severity or difficulties.
Measured: Baseline, Phase IA midpoint (week 4) and post-Phase 1A(week 8/9), post-Phase 1B (week 17/18)
Behaviour Change
Changes in behavioural symptoms as measured by the Home Situations Questionnaire - Autism Spectrum Disorder (HSQ-ASD). The HSQ-ASD is a 24-item, parent-rated measure of non compliant behaviour in children with ASD. The scale yields per-item mean scores of 0 to 9, with higher scores indicating greater noncompliance.
Measured: Baseline, Phase 1A midpoint (week 4) and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9)
Behaviour Change
Changes in parent/guardian targeted behaviours as measured by the Parent Targeted Symptom Visual Analogue Scale (PTSVAS). The PTSVAS tool requests parents/guardians report their top three (3) target behaviours (behaviours of concern) on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The VAS is a horizontal line of 100mm in length, with each end defined as the extreme limits of the behaviour of concern ("best" to "worst"), to be measured from left to right. The parents will score the behaviour by placing a mark on the VAS at baseline and post-intervention. Each mark will be measured on the scale of 0-100mm and the change from baseline to post-intervention noted.
Measured: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9)
Secondary outcomes (8)
Change in GI Symptom Severity
Change in GI symptom severity as measured by the 6-item gastrointestinal severity index (6-GSI). The 6-GSI assesses each GI symptom using a Likert scale of 0-2 (0 = nil/mild/infrequent; 1 = moderate/occasional; 2 = severe/frequent). Score range 0-12. Mild GI issues are defined as a score of under three and moderate or severe GI issues defined as a score of three or above.
Measured: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9)
Change in the Gut Microbiome
This is an explorative outcome to compare and characterise changes in gut (stool) micorbiome between treatment groups. Change or trends (diversity, bacterial species, metabolite potential) in the gut microbiome as analysed using stool shotgun metagenomic sequencing.
Measured: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9)
Change in Anxiety Levels
Change in anxiety levels as measured by the Parent Rated Anxiety Scale - Autism Spectrum Disorder (PRAS-ASD) questionnaire. This is a 25-item tool using a Likert scale of 0-3 (0=none; 1=mild; 2=moderate; 3=severe). Score range 0-75, with higher scores indicating greater levels of anxiety.
Measured: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9)
Change in Quality of Life
Quality of life (QoL) measured by the Quality of life Autism (QoLA) questionnaire. The QoLA is a 48-item questionnaire divided into 2 subsets (Part A and Part B). The QoLA utilises a 5-point scale (0-4). Possible scores range from 48-240, with higher scores equating to higher perceived QoL.
Measured: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9)
Change in Stool Consistency
Change in Stool consistency as measured by the Bristol Stool Chart (BSC, paediatric version)
Measured: Baseline, Phase A1 midpoint (week 4), and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9), post-Phase 1B (week 17/18) .
Change in stool short chain fatty acids levels
Change in stool short chain fatty acids levels as measured using gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID)
Measured: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (weeks 8/9)
Change in urinary serotonin concentration
Change in concentrations of the urinary serotonin metabolite, 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid as measured using a double solvent front extraction, followed by reversed phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection (ECD)
Measured: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (weeks 8/9)
Change in salivary cortisol levels
Change to salivary cortisol levels as measured using the Elecsys® Cortisol II assay
Measured: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (weeks 8/9)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Dec 2021
- Study start17 May 2022
- Primary completion16 Apr 2023
- Study completion31 Dec 2023 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Autism Spectrum DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be recruited into a two-phase project. Phase 1A: an 8-week double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised trial. Participants child will be randomised to one of groups 1) treatment (HMOs/Probiotic group) or 2) control group (placebo product). Phase 1B: is an 8-week open-label trial. All children who successfully complete phase 1A will be recruited into phase 1B. All participants in phase 1B will receive the treatment product (HMOs/probiotics). Follow up will occur at week 8 and week 17.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Queensland
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Peter SW Davies, PhD, Principal investigator, The University of Queensland
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05151601
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2020-11-30-Auts
- Status last verified
- Feb 2023
- First submitted
- 17 Oct 2021
- Last updated
- 28 Jun 2023
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: IPD is the intellectual property of the funding industry partner.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Jun 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of a Combination of Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) and Probiotics on Behavioural Change in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05151601
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2020-11-30-Auts
- Keywords
- Gut microbiome, Behaviour
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of QueenslandUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 17 May 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 16 Apr 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2023 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Dec 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This research project will investigate if a supplement containing a unique combination of prebiotics and probiotics can influence behaviour in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The study will use a combination of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs, prebiotics) and probiotics as an oral powder.This clinical trial will have two consecutive phases. Phase 1A is an 8-week randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Participants will be recruited and randomised (1:1) to receive either the investigational product (treatment group, n=30) or the placebo (control group, n=30). Phase 1B is an 8-week open-label study. All participants that complete Phase 1A will move into Phase 1B (n=60). This allows all participants to receive the investigational product and will provide additional information on increased duration of treatment.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be recruited into a two-phase project. Phase 1A: an 8-week double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised trial. Participants child will be randomised to one of groups 1) treatment (HMOs/Probiotic group) or 2) control group (placebo product). Phase 1B: is an 8-week open-label trial. All children who successfully complete phase 1A will be recruited into phase 1B. All participants in phase 1B will receive the treatment product (HMOs/probiotics). Follow up will occur at week 8 and week 17.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| HMOs + Probiotics | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: ExperimentalDosing: A total daily dose of 2 x sachets (6g/day) Product Comprised of: 1. 2.5g of a proprietary blend of human milk oligosaccharides combined with 2. 20 billion CFUs of a mixture of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium animalis spp. lactis, and Bifidobacterium longum. Mode of administration: oral. |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Other: PlaceboDosing: A total daily dose of 2 x sachets (6g/day)u (8 weeks of phase 1A). Product: powdered maltodextrin. Mode of administration: oral. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 5 to 12 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Aged 5.00 years to 12.99 years.
- A confirmed diagnosis of ASD or Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) including autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder (AS); PDD not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS); and atypical autism.
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Organic GI disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, eosinophilic disorders, or current infection of the GI tract.
- Bowel surgery or short bowel syndrome
- Participants who have a diagnosed cow milk protein allergy.
- Participants who suffer from the conditions listed below or who are taking any of the following medications or supplements:
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental2 x sachets per day | Dietary supplement | HMOs + Probiotics |
| Placebo2 x sachets per day | Other | Placebo |
Primary outcome
Behaviour change
Time frame: Baseline, Phase IA midpoint (week 4) and post-Phase 1A(week 8/9), post-Phase 1B (week 17/18)
Changes in behavioural symptoms as measured by the Irritability sub-scale of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist - Community (Version 2) (I-ABC). The ABC 58-item parent-rated questionnaire and consists of five subscales, including: 1) irritability (15 items); 2) lethargy/social withdrawal (16 items); 3) stereotypic behaviour (7 items); 4) hyperactivity/noncompliance (16 items); and 5) inappropriate speech (4 items). Each item is scored as 0=never a problem, 1=slight problem, 2=moderately serious problem, or 3=severe problem. The score range is 0-174, with a higher score indicating greater severity or difficulties.
Behaviour Change
Time frame: Baseline, Phase 1A midpoint (week 4) and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9)
Changes in behavioural symptoms as measured by the Home Situations Questionnaire - Autism Spectrum Disorder (HSQ-ASD). The HSQ-ASD is a 24-item, parent-rated measure of non compliant behaviour in children with ASD. The scale yields per-item mean scores of 0 to 9, with higher scores indicating greater noncompliance.
Behaviour Change
Time frame: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9)
Changes in parent/guardian targeted behaviours as measured by the Parent Targeted Symptom Visual Analogue Scale (PTSVAS). The PTSVAS tool requests parents/guardians report their top three (3) target behaviours (behaviours of concern) on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The VAS is a horizontal line of 100mm in length, with each end defined as the extreme limits of the behaviour of concern ("best" to "worst"), to be measured from left to right. The parents will score the behaviour by placing a mark on the VAS at baseline and post-intervention. Each mark will be measured on the scale of 0-100mm and the change from baseline to post-intervention noted.
8 secondary outcomes
Change in GI Symptom Severity
Time frame: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9)
Change in the Gut Microbiome
Time frame: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9)
Change in Anxiety Levels
Time frame: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9)
Change in Quality of Life
Time frame: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9)
Change in Stool Consistency
Time frame: Baseline, Phase A1 midpoint (week 4), and post-Phase 1A (week 8/9), post-Phase 1B (week 17/18) .
Change in stool short chain fatty acids levels
Time frame: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (weeks 8/9)
Change in urinary serotonin concentration
Time frame: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (weeks 8/9)
Change in salivary cortisol levels
Time frame: Baseline and post-Phase 1A (weeks 8/9)
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Jun 2023.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. IPD is the intellectual property of the funding industry partner.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Peter SW Davies, PhD principal investigator
The University of Queensland
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Experimental in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, run by The University of Queensland at 1 site in Australia.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Jun 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Australia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Behaviour change (time frame: Baseline, Phase IA midpoint (week 4) and post-Phase 1A(week 8/9), post-Phase 1B (week 17/18)). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Jun 2023; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.