Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38291245›Full record

Trial reportJournal of autism and developmental disorders2025

A Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Trial of Prebiotic Supplementation in Children with Autism: Effects on Parental Quality of Life, Child Behaviour, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, and the Microbiome.

Jacqueline K Palmer, Jolieke C van der Pols, Karen A Sullivan, Heidi M Staudacher, Rebecca Byrne

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Trial
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Jacqueline K PalmerSchool of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Jacqui.palmer@uq.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7398-1810
Jolieke C van der PolsSchool of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4169-1795
Karen A SullivanSchool of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5952-5114
Heidi M StaudacherFood & Mood Centre, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, IMPACT Institute, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6704-2131
Rebecca ByrneSchool of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0096-3320

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeModifying gut bacteria in children with autism may influence behaviour, with potential to improve family functioning. We conducted a randomised controlled trial to assess the effect of prebiotics on behaviour, gastrointestinal symptoms and downstream effects on parental quality of life.

methodChildren with autism (4-10yrs) were randomised to 2.4 g/d of prebiotic (GOS) or placebo for six weeks. Pre and post stools samples were collected, and validated questionnaires used to measure change in social and mealtime behaviours, GI symptoms and pQOL. Linear mixed models evaluated group differences for behavioural variables, and Mann Whitney U tests were used to compare change between-groups for GI symptoms, differential abundance of genera and alpha diversity of the microbiome.

resultsThirty-three parent-child dyads completed the trial. No group difference was seen for behavioural variables but both groups improved significantly from baseline. There was a medium effect size between groups for GI symptoms (d = 0.47) and pQOL (d = 0.44) driven by greater improvements in the prebiotic group. Bifidobacterium increased threefold following prebiotics (1.4-5.9%, p < 0.001) with no change in controls. Supplements were well tolerated, compliance with dose 94%.

conclusionPrebiotics modify levels of Bifidobacterium and prove well tolerated but in this instance, resulted in only marginal effects on GI symptoms and pQOL. A larger sample of children with more severe symptoms could help to determine the potential of prebiotics in autism.

trial registrationhttps://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12619000615189 .

Indexed as

Autistic DisorderChild BehaviorGastrointestinal DiseasesGastrointestinal MicrobiomeParentsPrebioticsQuality of LifeChildChild, PreschoolDietary SupplementsDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMaleTreatment OutcomePrebioticsAutismGastrointestinal symptomsMealtime behaviourMicrobiomePrebioticQuality of lifeSocial behaviour

Identifiers

PMID38291245
PMCPMC11828843

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.