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Effects of probiotic supplementation on gastrointestinal, sensory and core symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A randomized controlled trial
In this double-blind, randomized trial (published in 2020), 85 preschoolers with autism were randomly assigned to receive either probiotics or placebo for 6 months. This study tested the effects of probiotics on autistic children since these “psychobiotics” were believed to enhance behavior and modulate brain activity and function. Around 74% of the child participants completed the trial. The study found no difference in the primary outcome measure, Total Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Calibrated Severity Score (ADOS-CSS), between the two groups. Upon examining subgroups of children with or without gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, those without GI issues in the probiotics group scored lower in ADOS-CSS than those in the placebo group. Moreover, the kids with gastrointestinal problems who were treated with probiotics showed greater improvements in some GI symptoms, adaptive functioning, and sensory profiles than those in the GI group but who were treated with the placebo. Overall, these results suggest that probiotics can potentially positively influence the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. The next set of studies should replicate this present study design while using a wider population of autistic patients. [NPID: autism, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, autistic, probiotics, children, child, gastrointestinal, symptoms, GI, intestinal, gut]
Year: 2020
