Diet and Behavior in Young Children With Autism

NCT ID: NCT00090428

Last Updated: 2013-02-01

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE1

Total Enrollment

21 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2004-01-31

Study Completion Date

2009-02-28

Brief Summary

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This study will determine whether a gluten- and casein-free diet has specific benefits for children with autism.

Detailed Description

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Autism is a serious brain disorder that affects brain development and often causes social and educational problems. Prior studies suggested that a gluten- and casein-free diet may have a therapeutic effect on the behavior of children with autism. This study will examine the effects of such a diet on the behavior of children with autism who meet research diagnostic criteria, are monitored in adherence to the diet, and receive similar intense behavioral therapy.

Children in this study will be following a gluten free and casein free diet for 18 weeks. All subjects will have 6 weeks of baseline followed by 12 weeks of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, challenge snacks with careful behavioral observation and evaluation. They also will be receiving uniform educational and behavioral services through their provider. Standard autism evaluation methods, weekly diet and sleep diaries and scheduled laboratory tests will be used to assess subjects. An end of study, follow-up assessment will be completed at 30 weeks after the start of the study.

Conditions

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Autism Autistic Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators

Study Groups

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1

Participants will follow a gluten-free and casein-free diet for 18 weeks. The compliance with the diet was monitored with 24 hour dietary recall and nutritional sufficiency with diet diary analysis.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Gluten- and casein-free diet

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will follow a gluten-free and casein-free diet for 18 weeks. All children received individual EIBI interventions to decrease the confound of different types of therapies.

2

After established on a gluten free and casein free diet for at least 6 weeks, participants received double blind, placebo controlled challenges containing gluten, casein, gluten+casein, or placebo in a random order. Data was collected on behavioral and physiologic responses relative to the challenges. Children remained on the gluten free and casein free diet throughout this period.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Placebo controlled diet

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will follow a gluten-free and casein-free diet for 18 weeks. They will receive double blind placebo controlled challenge snacks that contain gluten, casein, gluten+casein or placebo with measurement of response. They remain on the gluten free and casein free diet for the entire study period.

Interventions

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Gluten- and casein-free diet

Participants will follow a gluten-free and casein-free diet for 18 weeks. All children received individual EIBI interventions to decrease the confound of different types of therapies.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Placebo controlled diet

Participants will follow a gluten-free and casein-free diet for 18 weeks. They will receive double blind placebo controlled challenge snacks that contain gluten, casein, gluten+casein or placebo with measurement of response. They remain on the gluten free and casein free diet for the entire study period.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Autism spectrum disorder or pervasive developmental disorder, ADI-R and ADOS positive.
* Participation in applied behavioral analysis classes for at least 4 months, with at least 10 hours per week of service, and at least 1 hour of service in the home
* A score higher than 30 on the Mullen Early Learning scale
* Ability to maintain a gluten- and casein-free diet during the study
* In order to maintain study integrity, and due to frequent child assessments, enrollment is limited to a select population within the Rochester area
Minimum Eligible Age

30 Months

Maximum Eligible Age

54 Months

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Rochester

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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susan hyman

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Susan Hyman, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Rochester

Locations

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University of Rochester Medical Center

Rochester, New York, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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U54MH066397

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

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DDTR BD-DD

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

U54MH066397

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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