Probiotics and Oxytocin Nasal Spray on Social Behaviors of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Children

Summary

Because oral probiotics reported to potentially induce endogenous Oxytocin, and Oxytocin has been reported to improve social behaviors, the investigators will conduct a pilot trial to compare the effects of probiotics and Oxytocin on social behavioral changes in ASD children. Additionally, the investigators will check oxytocin levels, and perform brain fMRI in some subjects, in order to determine which treatment is more efficient, sustainable, and practical, and whether both treatments in combination are better than either treatment alone. If the trial is conclusive, the investigators will conduct a trial in large scale to understand more the mechanism of ASD behaviors and corresponding effective interventions.

Timeline

Start

2018-12-01

Primary completion

2019-10-02

Completion

2019-10-02

Publications

• Sherman HT, Liu K, Kwong K, Chan ST, Li AC, Kong XJ. Carbon monoxide (CO) correlates with symptom severity, autoimmunity, and responses to probiotics treatment in a cohort of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): a post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry. 2022 Aug 8;22(1):536. doi: 10.1186/s12888-022-04151-3.
• Kong XJ, Liu J, Li J, Kwong K, Koh M, Sukijthamapan P, Guo JJ, Sun ZJ, Song Y. Probiotics and oxytocin nasal spray as neuro-social-behavioral interventions for patients with autism spectrum disorders: a pilot randomized controlled trial protocol. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2020 Feb 12;6:20. doi: 10.1186/s40814-020-0557-8. eCollection 2020.

Drugs

Indications