Impact of probiotic supplements on behavioural and gastrointestinal symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomised controlled trial

Study Overview

This study aimed to see if probiotics could help improve behavior and gut issues in children aged 2-9 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Study Design

The research was a single-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted at five clinics.

Participants

180 children with ASD participated, divided into two groups: one received probiotics and the other received a placebo.

Intervention

Children took either a probiotic or placebo mixed in milk or water twice a day for three months.

Key Findings

  • The probiotic group showed a significant decrease in behavioral issues, with a 47.77% improvement compared to 23.33% in the placebo group.
  • Specific improvements included:
    • Social withdrawal/lethargy: 40% reduction
    • Stereotypic behavior: 37.77% reduction
    • Hyperactivity: 34.44% reduction
    • Inappropriate speech: 32.22% reduction
  • Gut issues also improved, with significant reductions in constipation and diarrhea.
  • Behavioral and gastrointestinal symptoms were found to be related.

Conclusions

Probiotic supplements can help improve both behavioral and gastrointestinal symptoms in children with ASD without any side effects. However, more research is needed with a larger group of children.

Next Steps for Clinics and Patients

  • Define clear goals for using probiotics in treatment plans.
  • Use AI tools to track and analyze the impact of probiotics on symptoms.
  • Start with a pilot project to gather data and adjust treatment as needed.

Contact Us for AI Solutions

If you are interested in AI solutions for medical management, reach out to us:

AI Products for Business or Try Custom Development

AI Sales Bot

Welcome AI Sales Bot, your 24/7 teammate! Engaging customers in natural language across all channels and learning from your materials, it’s a step towards efficient, enriched customer interactions and sales

AI Document Assistant

Unlock insights and drive decisions with our AI Insights Suite. Indexing your documents and data, it provides smart, AI-driven decision support, enhancing your productivity and decision-making.

AI Customer Support

Upgrade your support with our AI Assistant, reducing response times and personalizing interactions by analyzing documents and past engagements. Boost your team and customer satisfaction

AI Scrum Bot

Enhance agile management with our AI Scrum Bot, it helps to organize retrospectives. It answers queries and boosts collaboration and efficiency in your scrum processes.