Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 on Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Taiwan: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Liu Liu,Cheng Cheng,Chung Chung,Lin Lin,Wu Wu,Liong Liong,Tsai Tsai,Peng Peng,Huang Huang

doi:10.3390/nu11040820

Abstract

This four-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 (PS128) on boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aged 7–15 in Taiwan. All subjects fulfilled the criteria for ASD diagnosis of DSM-V and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). Questionnaires used for the primary outcome measure include the Autism Behavior Checklist-Taiwan version (ABC-T), the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham-IV-Taiwan version (SNAP-IV) and the Clinical Global Impression-improvement (CGI-I) were used for the secondary outcome measure. The results showed that PS128 ameliorated opposition/defiance behaviors, and that the total score of SNAP-IV for younger children (aged 7−12) improved significantly compared with the placebo group. Additionally, several elements were also notably improved in the PS128 group after 28-day consumption of PS128. Further studies are needed to better clarify the effects of PS128 for younger children with ASD on broader symptoms.

Highlights

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a specific neurodevelopmental condition characterized by core symptoms, persistent deficits in social communication and social interactions across multiple contexts, accompanied by restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, and/or activities [1].ASD is a complex disorder affecting many facets of life
We previously reported the beneficial effects of PS128 as a psychobiotic strain
This study aimed to study the effects of psychobiotic PS128, a specific probiotic strain, on behaviors of boys with ASD, aged 7–15 in Taiwan

Summary

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a specific neurodevelopmental condition characterized by core symptoms, persistent deficits in social communication and social interactions across multiple contexts, accompanied by restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, and/or activities [1]. ASD is a complex disorder affecting many facets of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of ASD in the USA has increased from 4.5 in 10,000 children in 1966 [7,8] to 1 in 110 in 2006 [9] and 1 in 59 children aged 8 years in 2014 [10], respectively, mainly due to increased. In Taiwan, more than 13,000 people have been diagnosed with ASD according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan in 2018. The male patients are seven-fold as many as the female ones (see the supplementary Figure S1)

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Conclusion