ScanBrit Dietary Intervention in Autism

NCT ID: NCT00614198

Last Updated: 2010-10-01

Study Results

Results available

Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

72 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2006-04-30

Study Completion Date

2008-10-31

Brief Summary

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A growing body of research indicates that dietary intervention excluding foods containing the proteins, gluten and casein, from the diet of children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have a positive effect on behaviour and developmental outcome.

In this single-blind, randomised-controlled, matched-pair adaptive trial, we introduced a gluten- and casein-free (GFCF) diet to a group of pre-pubescent children diagnosed with ASD concurrently with an abnormal urinary profile. Following random allocation to a diet or non- diet group, stage 1 of the study saw an intervention group follow the GFCF diet for eight months initially - progressing to 12 months if required. A non-diet control group continued with a normal diet.

Assuming significant changes for the dietary group on the various outcome measures of behaviour and development, stage 2 of the study saw both groups assigned to GFCF dietary intervention for a further 12 months when outcome measures were again assessed at study end.

Detailed Description

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Eligibility criteria: diagnosis of autism, no co-morbid diagnosis of Fragile X syndrome, epilepsy or tuberous sclerosis, aged between 4-10y11m.

Experimental hypothesis: children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on a GFCF diet would show a significantly improved group developmental outcome in the medium- and long-term with regards to core autism and/or secondary symptoms.

Main outcome measures: change in scores of dietary participants on one or more measures against predefined statistical thresholds as evidence of improvement, alongside changes to intra- and inter-group scores at study endpoint.

Main outcome measures ascertained by: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), Gillam Autism Rating Scale (GARS), Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - IV (ADHD-IV) scales.

Conditions

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Autism Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Investigators

Study Groups

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Gluten- and casein-free diet

Stage 1: Gluten- and casein-free dietary intervention for first 8 or 12 months. 8 or 12 months: Interim analysis based on surpassing statistical thresholds. If showed group significant improvements then progressed to stage 2 (continued on a gluten- and casein-free diet for a further 12 months).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Gluten- and casein-free diet

Intervention Type OTHER

Removal of foods containing gluten (cereal produce) and casein (dairy produce)

No dietary intervention

Stage 1: No special dietary intervention for first 8 or 12 months. 8 or 12 months: Interim analysis based on surpassing statistical thresholds. If gluten- and casein-free dietary group showed group significant improvements then progressed to stage 2 (introduction of a gluten- and casein-free diet for 12 months).

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Gluten- and casein-free diet

Removal of foods containing gluten (cereal produce) and casein (dairy produce)

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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Gluten-free (wheat-free), casein- free (milk-free) diets

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
* Diagnosis received at Centre for Autism or a psychiatric clinic
* Abnormal urinary peptide profile

Exclusion Criteria

* Medical treatment
* Epilepsy
Minimum Eligible Age

4 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

11 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Norway: Bo Nils og Seim Family Settlement

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

The Robert Luff Foundation, United Kingdom

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Eric Birger Christensen Fond, Denmark

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Norsk Proteinintolerance, Norway

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Center for Autisme, Denmark

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Center for Autisme

References

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Whiteley P, Haracopos D, Knivsberg AM, Reichelt KL, Parlar S, Jacobsen J, Seim A, Pedersen L, Schondel M, Shattock P. The ScanBrit randomised, controlled, single-blind study of a gluten- and casein-free dietary intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders. Nutr Neurosci. 2010 Apr;13(2):87-100. doi: 10.1179/147683010X12611460763922.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 20406576 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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http://www.centerforautisme.dk

Center for Autisme, Denmark

Other Identifiers

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KA 0503g

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id