Gluten for Autism Spectrum Disorders

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02280746
• Recruitment Status: Unknown
• First Posted: October 31, 2014
• Last Update Posted: October 31, 2014
• Sponsor: Medical University of Warsaw
• Collaborator: Nutricia Foundation
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Medical University of Warsaw

Study Description

Brief Summary:

BACKGRUOUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common condition. The etiology of ASD remains unknown. Recent studies suggest a link between elimination diets and severity of autistic symptoms. The possible effects of a gluten-free diet (GFD) on symptoms remain unknown.

AIM: The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of gluten challenge on the autistic symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and on a gluten-free diet (GFD) in comparison to individuals continuing GFD.

METHODS: 70 children with ASD aged 3-5 and 11/12 remaining on GFD for at least 8 weeks will be randomly assigned to gluten-free and gluten-challenge diet.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Autism Spectrum Disorders	Other: Gluten challenge	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental lifelong disorder, significantly impairing the quality of life of patients and their families. The symptoms are thought to result from interaction between genetics and environment. Treatment is multidisciplinary, based on behavioral therapy, education, and sometimes requires specialized care (i.e. genetics) and pharmacotherapy. The lack of consensus about the etiology of ASD directs researchers to define the condition as combination of symptoms, patient's history data, the impact of co-morbidities (including gastrointestinal disorders), and the effectiveness of various management therapies.

The use of complementary and alternative methods (CAM) of treatment is common and includes especially elimination diets, which are intended to minimize symptoms. The basis for the potentially beneficial impact of dietary intervention has been reported in connection to the correlation between congenital metabolic disorders (phenylketonuria) in patients with ASD and improvements in their overt symptoms in patients with schizophrenia Excessive activity of peptides derived from the metabolism of gluten and casein in individuals with ASD is thought to result in impaired neurotransmission in the brain. The increased permeability of the intestinal barrier, resulting from the inflammatory response (the theory of "leaky gut") in ASD patients, simultaneously promotes excessive absorption of those compounds. Another hypothesis assumes the effectiveness of elimination diets in children with ASD, suggesting allergic background of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Additionally it is emphasized that the lack of ability to communicate symptoms or atypical clinical manifestations (i.e. neuropsychiatric symptoms like hyperactivity, sleep disorders) in children with ASD can make the diagnosis of gastrointestinal symptoms, allergy and other symptoms particularly difficult. Moreover the pain or discomfort may increase the risk of behavioral symptoms.

Review of the literature concerning the effectiveness of gluten-free and casein-free diet (GFCFD) in individuals with ASD reveals a possible bias of the available studies and lack of a definite conclusion. Among 35 identified studies only two randomized controlled trials have been analyzed. The data/information on reported effectiveness of interventions in the behavioral symptoms [mean difference (MD-mean difference) -5.60, 95% CI -9.02 to -2.18, p = 0.001] in Knivsberg's study, is not reliable because of study limitations. Whiteley et al summarized in 2012 the positive effect of GFCFD on various symptoms in ASD patients. However the influence of GFCFD in ASD children can be defined mostly as suggestive because of the methodological limitations. The main biases include: small sample size, unclear process of randomization and allocation, use of different ASD assessment tools, short trial duration, lack of evaluation of patients' compliance to intervention, and other limitations.

The theory of excessive activity of exogenous opioids reports on specific allergies (gluten and casein) suggesting a connection with celiac disease (CD) in subjects with ASD and thus providing a rationale to determine the effect of gluten on gastrointestinal symptoms and consequently on potential behavioral changes in this group of patients.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Estimated Enrollment: 70 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: Gluten Dietary Intervention for Autistic Symptoms in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders - Randomized Open Trial
• Study Start Date: September 2014
• Estimated Primary Completion Date: December 2015
• Estimated Study Completion Date: December 2015

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: A - gluten challenge group; Gluten challenge group - recommended daily intake of at least one normal meal containing gluten such as bread, pita, pasta, biscuits.	Other: Gluten challenge; Intervention will be continued for at least 6 months
No Intervention: B - gluten-free diet; Continuation of GFD.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. The extent of autistic symptoms based on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - 2 (ADOS-2) [ Time Frame: Change over time - 6 months ]

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. The severity of symptoms based on a Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) [ Time Frame: Change over time - 6 months ]
2. Presentation of gastrointestinal (GI) functional disorders (evaluation based on a parent-report form - Rome III diagnostic questionnaire [ Time Frame: Before, after 12 weeks and at the end of intervention ]
3. The extent of adaptive level of functioning on Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS) [ Time Frame: Change over time - 6 months ]
4. The extent of functioning on Autism Spectrum Rating Scale (ASRS) [ Time Frame: Change over time - 6 months ]
5. Anthropometry [ Time Frame: Change over time - 6 months ]
   Weight, height based on WHO growth charts, comparison of a ratio of weight for height (WfH), and body mass index (BMI)
6. Intelligence test Leiter International Performance Scale [ Time Frame: Change over time - 6 months ]

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 3 Years to 6 Years (Child)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 3-5 and 11/12 years with a diagnosis of ASD
• GFD for at least 8 weeks prior to enrollment
• Minimal scores of 15 on SCQ
• Minimal scores 70 points on Leiter scale
• Consent of caregivers to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Gluten-mediated disease (celiac disease, wheat allergy)
• Lack of motivation / opportunity to follow a diet
• Malnutrition (defined according World Health Organization - WHO standards as weight for height <-2 SDS - Standard Deviation Scores)

Contacts and Locations

Contacts

Contact: Anna Piwowarczyk; +48224523309; piwowarczyk.ann@gamil.com

Locations

Poland

Medical University of Warsaw; Recruiting

Warsaw, Poland

Contact: Anna Piwowarczyk +48224523309 piwowarczyk.ann@gmail.com

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical University of Warsaw

Nutricia Foundation

Investigators

• Study Director: Andrea Horvath; Medical University of Warsaw

More Information

Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

Piwowarczyk A, Horvath A, Pisula E, Kawa R, Szajewska H. Gluten-Free Diet in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized, Controlled, Single-Blinded Trial. J Autism Dev Disord. 2020 Feb;50(2):482-490. doi: 10.1007/s10803-019-04266-9.

• Responsible Party: Medical University of Warsaw
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02280746
• Other Study ID Numbers: RG 8/2013
• First Posted: October 31, 2014
• Last Update Posted: October 31, 2014
• Last Verified: October 2014

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Autistic Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders