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Not yet recruitingNCT07845253Updated Sep 28, 2026

Effect of Limosilactobacillus Reuteri on Social Deficits in Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder

An interventional study of Probiotics and Placebo in Autism Spectrum Disorder, sponsored by BioGaia AB. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Argentina. Open to participants aged 4 Years to 12 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-28.

Sponsored by BioGaia AB · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
200
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
4 Years to 12 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to evaluate the effect of a probiotic product on the ASD symptoms.

02

Conditions studied

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
4 Years to 12 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Boys or girls aged between 4 to 12 years at screening.
  • ASD diagnosis confirmed by a qualified clinician according to DMS-5 criteria, M-CHAT used as a screening tool.
  • Parents/caregivers/legal guardians are ≥18 years.
  • Readiness and the opportunity for parents/caregivers/legal guardians to fill out a study diary, questionnaires, and report regularly during the intervention period.
  • Parents/caregivers/legal guardians with ability to understand and comply with the requirements of the study, as judged by the Investigator.
  • Parents/caregivers/legal guardians willing and able to give informed consent for their and their child's participation in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Neurological syndromes that could explain autism disorders.
  • Organic gastrointestinal disorders (e.g. IBD, peptic ulcers and cancer). Celiac disease is accepted
  • Any other severe clinically relevant disease or disorder which may affect the participation in the study, based on the investigator's judgement.
  • Allergy or intolerance to one of the excipients of the probiotic product.
  • Children with reported exposure to probiotic supplements in the 15 days prior to Screening Visit (V1).
  • Children with reported exposure to oral and/or systemic antibiotics in the 7 days prior to Screening Visit (V1).
  • Children with reported exposure to proton pump inhibitors in the 7 days prior to Screening Visit (V1).
  • Participation in other interventional clinical study.
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
200 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Probiotics

    Probiotic oil drops formulation. Administered once daily.

    Dietary Supplement: Probiotics

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo

    Placebo oil drops formulation. Administered once daily.

    Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Interventions

  • Dietary supplementProbiotics

    Combination of L. reuteri strains.

  • Dietary supplementPlacebo

    Placebo identical to the active product, except the addition of probiotics.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Changes in Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) score

    Changes in the SRS-2 score in the L. reuteri group compared to the placebo group. The SRS-2 is a 65-item questionnaire, with higher scores indicating greater social impairment and severity of autism-related traits.

    Time frame: From baseline to end of study (6 months)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Ed (ADOS-2) Calibrated Severity Score (CSS) for Social Affect

    Change in ADOS-2 CSS for Social Affect in the L. reuteri group compared to the placebo group. ADOS-2 is a semi-structured, standardized assessment that observes social interaction, communication, play, and restricted or repetitive behaviors across five modules tailored to age and language level. Higher scores indicate a higher level of autism-related behaviors.

    Time frame: From baseline to end of study (6 months)

  2. Change in total Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Ed (ADOS-2) score

    Change in total ADOS-2 score in the L. reuteri group compared to the placebo group. ADOS-2 is a semi-structured, standardized assessment that observes social interaction, communication, play, and restricted or repetitive behaviors across five modules tailored to age and language level. Higher scores indicate a higher level of autism-related behaviors.

    Time frame: From baseline to end of study (6 months)

  3. Change in GI symptoms

    Change in GI symptoms, assessed by the 6 item Gastrointestinal Severity Index (6-GSI) in the L. reuteri group compared to the placebo group. 6-GSI is a six item questionnaire with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.

    Time frame: From baseline to end fo study (6 months)

  4. Change in ABAS-2 score

    Change in adaptive behaviour, assessed by the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Second Edition (ABAS-2) in the L. reuteri group compared to the placebo group. ABAS-2 is a 4-point rating scale with the scoring system divided into skill area scores, domain scores and general adaptive composite.

    Time frame: From baseline to end fo study (6 months)

  5. Proportion of responders

    Proportion of responders at 6 months, evaluating all assessments and questionnaires, in the L. reuteri group compared to the placebo group.

    Time frame: At 6 months

Other outcomes

  1. Change in Family Quality of Life

    Change in family Quality of Life (QoL), assessed by the PedsQL Family Impact Module, in the L. reuteri group compared to the placebo group. A higher score indicates a better quality of life.

    Time frame: From baseline to end fo study (6 months)

  2. Change in quality of sleep

    Change in sleep quality, assessed by the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, in the L. reuteri group compared to placebo. The CSHQ is scored on 33 of 52 items, using a 1-3 scale, with a total score of 41 or higher indicating potential sleep problems.

    Time frame: From baseline to end of study (6 months)

  3. Impact of dietary habits

    Impact of dietary habits, assessed by a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), on the gut microbiota profile and effect of the L. reuteri intervention.

    Time frame: At baseline and end of study (6 months)

  4. Changes in gut microbiota structure and composition

    Changes in the gut microbiota structure and composition and the effect of the L. reuteri intervention, assessed by metagenomic analysis of fecal samples

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 and 6 months

06

Study locations

1 site
  • Sanatorio Maipú
    Mendoza, Maipú M5515DUF, Argentina
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07845253
Lead sponsor
BioGaia AB
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 28, 2026
Start date
Oct 15, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Oct 31, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Oct 31, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 28, 2026

Study contacts

Sanna H Nystrom, PhD
Contact
sny@biogaia.se
+46761483866
Anna Pauter, PhD
Contact
anp@biogaia.se
+46 76 328 04 77
Romina L Squartini, MD
principal investigator · Sanatorio Maipú

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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