Newswise — HOUSTON – (Sept. 11, 2018) – A small clinical trial underway at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) is testing the hypothesis that probiotics can help improve gastrointestinal symptoms of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). J. Marc Rhoads, M.D., professor and director of the Division of Gastroenterology in the Department of Pediatrics at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, is leading the study, titled “The Road to Discovery for a Combination Probiotic,” in search of evidence that the treatment is safe and promising.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 1 in 59 children in the United States have an ASD.
Probiotics have been known to have anti-inflammatory effects, and at least three systematic reviews published in BMC Gastroenterology, BMJ, and the American Journal of Gastroenterology, strongly suggest their benefit in adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by persistent abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel movements including diarrhea and constipation.
Since about half of children with ASD have abdominal symptoms resembling IBS, Rhoads initiated the first American randomized, placebo-controlled trial approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to investigate the safety and efficacy of a probiotic therapy for autistic behaviors, including gastrointestinal symptoms and biomarkers. Once screened and selected, study participants are either administered the combination probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG or a placebo capsule once a day for 56 days. The components of the trial medication, lactobacilli and bifidobacilli, have been shown to reduce symptoms in a meta-analysis of treatments for adults with IBS and in babies with colic.
The research is funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, a state agency that oversees public post-secondary education.
“I am honored to be heading up this critical pilot trial,” Rhoads said. “Gastrointestinal problems in an autistic child often cause other behavioral issues they may not be able to verbalize, so being able to resolve those issues could greatly improve their quality of life. If this study yields solid preliminary data, I’d like to implement a future multicenter trial to determine if the probiotic would be a better alternative to other therapies currently used for children with ASD.”
In addition to studying the bacteria present in fecal matter, Rhoads is also examining metabolites, which are biochemicals produced by the bacteria, or by the intestinal or immune cells as they are affected by bacteria.
“These metabolites enter the bloodstream and can affect behavior and even the biological clock,” Rhoads said. “Tracking the metabolites in the blood, in addition to the bacteria in the fecal matter, could lead to insight on how to curb aberrant behaviors, which include irritability, lethargy, stereotypy, hyperactivity and inappropriate speech.”
The trial takes a multi-faceted systems approach and includes experts in the fields of child psychiatry, biostatistics and gastroenterology. The group will measure the impact the probiotic has on autistic behaviors; gastrointestinal symptoms; gut inflammation and permeability; and fecal bacterial composition.
Participants must be between the ages of 4 and 15 with ASD and gastrointestinal symptoms. Over the course of three months, parents are required to monitor the child closely, document four surveys, bring the participant to five scheduled clinic visits and participate in two phone interviews.
Anyone interested in enrolling their child can call 713-500-5669.
About UTHealth
Established in 1972 by The University of Texas System Board of Regents, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) is Houston’s Health University and Texas’ resource for health care education, innovation, scientific discovery and excellence in patient care. The most comprehensive academic health center in the UT System and the U.S. Gulf Coast region, UTHealth is home to Jane and Robert Cizik School of Nursing, John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Medical School, and schools of biomedical informatics, biomedical sciences, dentistry and public health. UTHealth includes The University of Texas Harris County Psychiatric Center, as well as the growing clinical practices UT Physicians, UT Dentists and UT Health Services. The university’s primary teaching hospitals are Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. For more information, visit www.uth.edu.
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