Dietary Supplements for the Treatment of Angelman Syndrome
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00348933 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : July 6, 2006
Results First Posted : September 24, 2012
Last Update Posted : September 24, 2012
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Angelman Syndrome Nervous System Diseases | Drug: Betaine Drug: Creatine Drug: Metafolin Drug: Vitamin B12 | Not Applicable |
AS is a neurologic disorder that may cause developmental delay, mental retardation, severe speech impairment, seizures, small head size, and problems with movement and balance in young children. AS is caused by a missing or incomplete chromosome 15 that is inherited from the mother. Diagnosis of AS is usually made between three and seven years of age, when the characteristic behaviors and features of the disease become most evident. Prior to AS diagnosis, the symptoms may be mistaken for cerebral palsy or autism. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy, communication skills development, and behavior modification help to improve the quality of life of these children, but other treatments are needed.
In a previous study, decreased DNA methylation, which is a type of chemical change in DNA, was observed in an individual with AS; this condition may be a primary cause of AS. It is hypothesized that promoting increased DNA methylation might reduce the severity of AS symptoms. Betaine, creatine, Metafolin, and vitamin B12 are compounds normally found in the body that are involved in the DNA methylation pathway. Increasing the concentrations of these compounds in the body may enhance DNA methylation. This study will evaluate the efficacy of four dietary supplements in treating the symptoms of AS.
This study will last 12 months. Study visits will occur at study entry and Month 12. A selected group of participants, those who meet the diagnostic criteria for autism, will also be evaluated at Month 6. At study visits, participants will undergo an electroencephalogram (EEG). Medical history, physical exam, neurological exams, and developmental assessments will also be performed. Urine and blood collection, including tests to determine the blood levels of the dietary supplements, will occur at study entry and Months 6 and 12. Participants will receive two daily doses of Metafolin, betaine, and creatine, and one daily dose of vitamin B12 for the duration of the study. Parents will be asked to complete a questionnaire at each visit to report their child's behavior while taking the dietary supplements. Parents will also be contacted by phone periodically to assess changes and/or progress in their children.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 90 participants |
Allocation: | Non-Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Efficacy of a Therapeutic Treatment Trial in Angelman Syndrome |
Study Start Date : | July 2006 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | February 2010 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | February 2010 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: 1
Participants will receive two daily doses of Metafolin, betaine, and creatine, and one daily dose of vitamin B12 for 12 months.
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Drug: Betaine
100-200 mg per kg per day by mouth with a maximum of 6 grams divided in two daily doses Drug: Creatine 200 mg per kg per day with a daily maximum of 5 grams divided in two daily doses Drug: Metafolin 0.5 mg per kg per day by mouth with a maximum of 8 milligrams divided in two daily doses Drug: Vitamin B12 1 mg by mouth per day for all weights and ages |
- Average Change in Functioning in Specific Areas of Development, Including Speech and Communications Skills, Cognitive Abilities and Daily Living Skills [ Time Frame: Baseline, 1 year ]
Primary:
Bayley Scales of Infant Development measures Mental Developmental Index standard scores 0 (least skilled) - 100 (most skilled) Psychomotor Developmental Index standard scores 0 (least skilled - 10 (most skilled) Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS), Communication standard scores 0 (least skilled) - 100 (most skilled) Daily Living Skills standard scores 0 (least skilled) - 100 (most skilled) Socialization standard scores 0 (least skilled) - 100 (most skilled) Motor Skills standard scores 0 (least skilled) - 100 (most skilled) Preschool Language Scale (PLS), Auditory Comprehension 0 (least skilled) - 100 (most skilled) Expressive Communication 0 (least skilled) - 100 (most skilled)
- Change in Levels of Betaine, Creatine, Dimethylglycine, Guanidinoacetate, Homocysteine, and Methionine. [ Time Frame: Baseline, 1 year ]
- Change in RBC Folate [ Time Frame: Baseline, 1 year ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 1 Day to 5 Years (Child) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of AS
- In stable condition with relatively good control of seizures
- Willing to comply with treatment, study visit schedule, and study assessments
- Willing to take oral or G-tube medication
- Willing to be contacted monthly during the course of the study
- Parent or guardian willing to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of liver or kidney disease
- Currently being treated for a serious acute illness
- Known hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs
- Received high-dose folate drug treatment in the 12 months prior to study entry
- Other significant medical problems, including those involving the liver, kidney, or heart
- Other comorbidities, genetic disorders, or extreme prematurity; children with autism are not excluded

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00348933
United States, California | |
Rady Children's Hospital San Diego | |
San Diego, California, United States, 92123 | |
United States, Massachusetts | |
Children's Hospital Boston | |
Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
United States, South Carolina | |
Greenwood Genetics Center | |
Greenwood, South Carolina, United States | |
United States, Texas | |
Baylor College of Medicine | |
Houston, Texas, United States |
Principal Investigator: | Arthur L. Beaudet, MD | Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine | |
Principal Investigator: | Carlos A. Bacino, MD | Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine | |
Principal Investigator: | Wen-Hann Tan, BMBS | Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital Boston | |
Principal Investigator: | Lynne M. Bird, MD | Division of Dysmorphology/Genetics, Children's Hospital San Diego, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego | |
Principal Investigator: | Steven A. Skinner, MD | Greenwood Genetic Center |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Lynne M. Bird, Principal Investigator, University of California, San Diego |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00348933 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
RDCRN 5204 |
First Posted: | July 6, 2006 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | September 24, 2012 |
Last Update Posted: | September 24, 2012 |
Last Verified: | September 2012 |
Developmental Delay Mental Retardation Ataxia Microcephaly Seizures |
Nervous System Diseases Angelman Syndrome Syndrome Disease Pathologic Processes Movement Disorders Central Nervous System Diseases Abnormalities, Multiple Congenital Abnormalities Chromosome Disorders Genetic Diseases, Inborn Vitamin B 12 Hydroxocobalamin |
Betaine Vitamins Micronutrients Physiological Effects of Drugs Vitamin B Complex Hematinics Gastrointestinal Agents Lipotropic Agents Hypolipidemic Agents Antimetabolites Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Lipid Regulating Agents |