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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT03514784

Combination Probiotic: BB-12 With LGG (Different Doses) in Treating Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

This protocol is a blinded randomized controlled study of the effects of BB-12 with LGG at different doses in 70 healthy children with autism spectrum disorders at lower and higher doses over an 56-day period and a 28- day observation period. The study is being conducted in order to assess safety and tolerability of the probiotic (BB-12 with LGG) at 2 different doses of BB-12 with LGG. Identifying effects on behaviors in healthy children with ASD using SRS-2 and ABC, GI symptoms using GI symptom severity index, and relevant biomarkers of inflammation, microbiota, and metabolites. Primary testing and procedures will be conducted at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Memorial Hermann.

Biomarker identification includes Integrative analysis of plasma metabolome and stool microbiota will be conducted with the collaboration of Dr. Ruth Ann Luna and Dr. Jim Versalovic at Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology of Baylor College of Medicine.

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Key information

Age range

4 year–16 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1 / Phase 2

Primary location

UTHealth

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy children with autism spectrum disorders (4 - 16 years old) and gastrointestinal symptoms, based on the GI Severity Index, with no other recognized illness will be enrolled in this study. There will be no selection on the basis of age, race, or gender. Although the investigators anticipate the majority of subjects will be male and/or pre-pubertal, in females of childbearing potential, a pregnancy test (urine) will be performed on females participating (at each visit).

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Subjects taking immunosuppressive medications, including oral corticosteroids
  • A History of Positive result of HIV, Hepatitis B, and/or Hepatitis C test
  • Abnormal lab test results (Section 5.2)
  • Gastrointestinal diseases such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease
  • Subjects with an allergy to antibiotics
  • Presence of fever or a pre-existing adverse event monitored in the study
  • Use of probiotics in the last 30 days
  • Acute diarrheal illness within the past 30 days
  • Recent (within 2 weeks) or current use of oral antibiotics /anti-fungals Current use of oral laxatives
  • Subjects with implanted prosthetic devices including prosthetic heart valves
  • The investigators will require that subject not take any other probiotic-containing products, including yogurt supplemented with probiotics during the study period.

Treatment and study plan

BB-12 with LGG (Higher Dose)

Drug

BB-12 with LGG - Higher Dose (10 billion CFUs)

Other names: Probiotic

Placebo

Drug

Maltodextrin

Other names: Maltodextrin

BB-12 with LGG (Lower Dose)

Drug

BB-12 with LGG - Lower Dose (1 billion CFUs)

Other names: Probiotic

Primary outcomes

  1. Effects of BB-12+LGG at different doses on adverse events (safety)

    Time frame: 84 days

    Adverse events (Safety) will be measured by case report form (survey) that are related to BB-12 with LGG (health-promoting bacteria) or placebo treatment. The symptom grade will detail the severity of adverse events.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Effects of BB-12+LGG at different doses on irritability and maladaptive behaviors with Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC)

    Time frame: Days 1, 21, 56 and 84

    Psychological/Behavioral change in irritability and related maladaptive behaviors associated with ASD will be measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC)-2 pre and post treatment

  2. Effects of BB-12+LGG at different doses on irritability and maladaptive behaviors measured with the Social Responsiveness Scale-2

    Time frame: Days 1, 21, 56 and 84

    Psychological/Behavioral change in irritability and related maladaptive behaviors associated with ASD will be measured by the and the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) pre and post treatment.

Other outcomes

  1. Effects of BB-12+LGG at different doses on GI symptoms as measured by GI Symptom Severity Index

    Time frame: Days 1, 21, 56 and 84

    GI symptoms will be measured by the GI Severity Index.

  2. Effects of BB-12+LGG at different doses on gut inflammation (S1009A)

    Time frame: Days 1, 56 and 84

    Plasma S100A9 will indicate GI and systemic levels of inflammation. S100A9 is a damage-associated molecular pattern molecule (DAMP) released by granulocytes, which is reportedly elevated 2-fold in plasma of children with ASD.

  3. Effects of BB-12+LGG at different doses on gut inflammation (Fecal Calprotectin)

    Time frame: Days 1, 56 and 84

    Biological change in fecal calprotectin levels. FC is a highly accurate fecal marker of inflammation.

  4. Effects of BB-12+LGG at different doses on gut inflammation (Plasma Zonulin)

    Time frame: Days 1, 56 and 84

    Plasma zonulin, a marker for intestinal permeability ("leaky gut"), which is often associated with inflammation.

  5. Effects of BB-12+LGG at different doses on gut inflammation (IL-8)

    Time frame: Days 1, 56 and 84

    IL-8 can be an indicator of gut inflammation; it released from the intestinal epithelial cells during inflammation.

  6. Effects of BB-12+LGG at different doses on fecal microbial community

    Time frame: Days 1, 56 and 84

    Using 16S rDNA analysis, this will determine microbial alpha and beta diversity and distribution of the major taxa before and after probiotic treatment.

  7. Effects of BB-12+LGG at different doses on metabolites

    Time frame: Days 1, 56 and 84

    This will determine levels of metabolic markers which are reported to be abnormal in autism: fecal amino acids, ammonia, short chain fatty acids (SCFA), and phenols.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Other

Collaborators

  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
  • Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Registry information

Official study title

Road to Discovery for Combination Probiotic BB-12 With LGG (Different Doses) in Treating Autism Spectrum Disorder Disorders

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
May 2, 2018
Registry last updated
May 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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