Beneficial Bacteria Treatment for Autism

NCT ID: NCT02504554

Last Updated: 2025-09-12

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE1/PHASE2

Total Enrollment

18 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-07-31

Study Completion Date

2016-04-30

Brief Summary

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This is an open-label clinical trial to investigate a combination therapy for treating gastrointestinal problems in children with autism spectrum disorders.

The combination therapy includes beneficial bacteria.

Detailed Description

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This is an open-label clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and feasibility of a combination therapy to treat gastrointestinal problems in children with autism spectrum disorders.

It involves a combination therapy including beneficial bacteria.

Conditions

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Gastrointestinal Problems Autism Spectrum Disorders

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Oral Group

This group will receive all treatments orally. The treatments include a combination of Vancomycin, MoviPrep, Prilosec, and human fecal material; processed, frozen.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

oral Vancomycin

Intervention Type DRUG

an antibiotic

MoviPrep

Intervention Type DRUG

a bowel cleanse

Prilosec

Intervention Type DRUG

a stomach acid suppressan

human fecal material; processed, frozen administered orally

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

human fecal material; processed, frozen, administered orally

Rectal Group

This group will receive some treatments rectally and some orally. The treatments include a combination of Vancomycin, MoviPrep, Prilosec, and human fecal material; processed, frozen.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

oral Vancomycin

Intervention Type DRUG

an antibiotic

MoviPrep

Intervention Type DRUG

a bowel cleanse

Prilosec

Intervention Type DRUG

a stomach acid suppressan

human fecal material; processed, frozen; administered orally and rectally

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

human fecal material; processed, frozen; administered orally and rectally

Interventions

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oral Vancomycin

an antibiotic

Intervention Type DRUG

MoviPrep

a bowel cleanse

Intervention Type DRUG

Prilosec

a stomach acid suppressan

Intervention Type DRUG

human fecal material; processed, frozen administered orally

human fecal material; processed, frozen, administered orally

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

human fecal material; processed, frozen; administered orally and rectally

human fecal material; processed, frozen; administered orally and rectally

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Children ages 7-17 years
2. Diagnosis of autism per Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R)
3. Moderate or Severe GI problems ( on the GSRS, a single score of 4 (severe) on any item, or a score of 3 (moderate) on two items, or a score of 2 (mild) or more on any 4 items
4. No changes in medications, supplements, diet, therapies, or education in last 3 months, and no intention to change them during clinical trial
5. General good physical health aside from gastrointestinal problems
6. Cognitive Ability to Provide Informed Assent

Exclusion Criteria

1. Antibiotics in last 6 months
2. Probiotics in last 3 months
3. Single-gene disorder (Fragile X, etc.)
4. Major brain malformation
5. Tube feeding
6. Severe gastrointestinal problems that require immediate treatment (life-threatening)
7. Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, diagnosed Celiac Disease, Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis, or similar conditions
8. Severely underweight/malnourished
9. Recent or scheduled surgeries
10. Current participation in other clinical trials
Minimum Eligible Age

7 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

17 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Northern Arizona University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Arizona

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Minnesota

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Arizona State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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James B Adams, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Arizona State University

References

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Kang DW, Adams JB, Vargason T, Santiago M, Hahn J, Krajmalnik-Brown R. Distinct Fecal and Plasma Metabolites in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Their Modulation after Microbiota Transfer Therapy. mSphere. 2020 Oct 21;5(5):e00314-20. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00314-20.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 33087514 (View on PubMed)

Kang DW, Adams JB, Coleman DM, Pollard EL, Maldonado J, McDonough-Means S, Caporaso JG, Krajmalnik-Brown R. Long-term benefit of Microbiota Transfer Therapy on autism symptoms and gut microbiota. Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 9;9(1):5821. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42183-0.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 30967657 (View on PubMed)

Kang DW, Adams JB, Gregory AC, Borody T, Chittick L, Fasano A, Khoruts A, Geis E, Maldonado J, McDonough-Means S, Pollard EL, Roux S, Sadowsky MJ, Lipson KS, Sullivan MB, Caporaso JG, Krajmalnik-Brown R. Microbiota Transfer Therapy alters gut ecosystem and improves gastrointestinal and autism symptoms: an open-label study. Microbiome. 2017 Jan 23;5(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s40168-016-0225-7.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 28122648 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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STUDY00001053

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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