scholarly journals Improvement of sleep patterns and serum melatonin levels in children with autism spectrum disorders after consumption of beta-1,3/1,6-glucan in a pilot clinical study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kadalraja Raghavan ◽  
Vidyasagar Devaprasad Dedeepiya ◽  
Ramesh Shankar Kandaswamy ◽  
Mangaleswaran Balamurugan ◽  
Nobunao Ikewaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Conventional Therapy ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Sleep Pattern ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Melatonin Level ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Sleep Patterns ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Abstract Study objectives: Poor sleep quality is a major problem that patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) face, which is attributed to their low melatonin levels. Melatonin supplementation is recommended, but its effectiveness is varied. Beta-glucans have previously been reported to improve melatonin levels in animal studies. Therefore, we examined the effectiveness of Aureobasidium pullulans (Nichi Glucan), a species of black yeast that contains beta-1,3/1,6-glucan, in a pilot study of children with ASD. Methods Thirteen children (age = 2.5 to 13 years) with ASD were recruited into the study. The control group consisted of four patients (Gr. 1), while nine patients were in the treatment group (Gr. 2). Gr. 2 received 1 g of Nichi Glucan along with conventional therapy, whereas Gr. 1 underwent conventional therapy alone for 90 days. The serum melatonin levels and sleep patterns, assessed using a subjective questionnaire, were evaluated before and after treatment. Results In Gr. 2, the average serum melatonin level increased from 238.85 ng/dl pre-intervention to 394.72 ng/dl post-intervention. Eight out of nine subjects (88%) in Gr. 2 group showed and improvement in their sleep pattern and quality, while this improvement was not observed in the control group. Conclusions Our study is the first in the literature to report that consumption of Nichi Glucan for 90 days showed visible improvement in sleep quality, sleep pattern, and serum melatonin levels. A larger multicentre study is warranted to validate our findings.

scholarly journals Tactile Processing and Quality of Sleep in Autism Spectrum Disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 362
Author(s):  
Dominika Jamioł-Milc ◽  
Mirosława Bloch ◽  
Magdalena Liput ◽  
Laura Stachowska ◽  
Karolina Skonieczna-Żydecka
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Sleep Disorders ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Quality Of Sleep ◽  
Tactile Stimuli ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) commonly experience problems with the processing of tactile stimuli and poor quality of sleep. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether tactile stimuli modulation (TSM) disorders might be linked to insomnia prevalence in ASD individuals. We hypothesized that sleep disorders in children with ASD may result from improper tactile under/over responsivity. The study included 27 children diagnosed with ASD, aged 6.8 (±2.9 years) with male dominance (n = 22, 81.5%). To evaluate the pattern of TSM we used a clinical interview with a parent, and guided and spontaneous observation of the patients. Sleep disorders were diagnosed using the Athens Insomnia Scale. Of all the children diagnosed with TSM, 20 patients (74.1%) had an over-responsivity pattern and 7 children (25.9%) had an under-responsivity pattern. Of the patients, 11 children (40.7%) met the diagnostic criteria for insomnia. The data indicated a statistical tendency for higher prevalence of insomnia in individuals diagnosed with tactile under-responsivity (p = 0.051). We concluded that under-responsivity toward tactile stimuli may be partly responsible for poor sleep quality in ASD. There is an urgent need to treat sleep and sensory disruptions which may intensify behavioral difficulties in ASD.

scholarly journals Paternal and maternal age at pregnancy and autism spectrum disorders in offspring

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luh Putu Rihayani Budi ◽  
Mei Neni Sitaresmi ◽  
I Gusti Ayu Trisna Windiani
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Maternal Age ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Paternal Age ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Smoking During Pregnancy ◽  
Past Half Century ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Paternal Smoking

Background The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders(ASDs) has increased 10 times over the past half century,while paternal and maternal age at pregnancy has alsoincreased. Studies looking for an association between paternalor maternal age at pregnancy and ASDs in offspring have notbeen conclusive.Objective To assess for possible associations between paternaland maternal age at pregnancy and ASDs in offspring.Methods This case-control study had 50 case and 100control subjects, each case was matched for age and genderto two controls. Case subjects were obtained by consecutivesampling of patients aged 18 months to 7 years who visited theDevelopmental Behavioral & Community Pediatrics OutpatientClinic and private growth and development centers from Januaryto April 2013, while control group were children of the sameage range and same gender who visited pediatric outpatientclinic at Sanglah Hospital mostly due to acute respiratory tractinfection, without ASDs as assessed by the DSM-IV-TR criteria.We interviewed parents to collect the following data: maternaland paternal age at pregnancy, child’s birth weight, historyof asphyxia, hospital admission during the neonatal period,pathological labor, maternal smoking during pregnancy, paternalsmoking, and gestational age. Data analysis was performed withChi-square and Fisher’s exact tests.Results Multivariable analysis showed that higher paternal ageat pregnancy was associated with ASDs in offspring (OR 6.3;95%CI 2.0 to 19.3; P 0.001). However, there was no significantassociation between maternal age during pregnancy and theincidence of ASDs. Asphyxia and paternal smoking were alsoassociated with higher incidence of ASDs in the offspring (OR10.3; 95%CI 1.9 to 56.5; P 0.007 and OR 3.2; 95%CI 1.5 to 6.9;P 0.003, respectively).Conclusion􀀃􀀳􀁄􀁗􀁈􀁕􀁑􀁄􀁏􀀃􀁄􀁊􀁈􀀃􀂕􀀗􀀓􀀃􀁜􀁈􀁄􀁕􀁖􀀃􀁌􀁑􀁆􀁕􀁈􀁄􀁖􀁈􀁇􀀃􀁗􀁋􀁈􀀃􀁕􀁌􀁖􀁎􀀃􀁒􀁉􀀃􀀤􀀶'􀁖􀀃in offspring by 6.3 times. In addition, paternal smoking increased the risk of ASDs in offspring by 3.2 times and asphyxia increasedthe risk of ASDs in offspring by 10.3 times.

Sleep Patterns in Autism Spectrum Disorders

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 917-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle P. Johnson ◽  
Flavia Giannotti ◽  
Flavia Cortesi
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Sleep Patterns ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

scholarly journals Mini-Basketball Training Program Improves Physical Fitness and Social Communication in Preschool Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 267-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke-Long Cai ◽  
Jin-Gui Wang ◽  
Zhi-Mei Liu ◽  
Li-Na Zhu ◽  
Xuan Xiong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Physical Fitness Test ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

AbstractThis investigation examined the effects of a 12-week mini-basketball training program (MBTP) on physical fitness and social communication in preschool children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The study applied a quasi-experimental design. Fifty-nine preschool children aged 3-6 years with ASD were assigned to either a MBTP group (n = 30) or a control group (n = 29). Participants in the MBTP group received a scheduled mini-basketball training program (5 sessions per week, forty minutes per session) for twelve consecutive weeks, while the control group was instructed to maintain their daily activities. The physical fitness test and the parent-reported Social Responsiveness Scale Second Edition (SRS-2) test were performed before and after the intervention. Results indicated that the 12-week MBTP facilitated performance in the physical fitness test, particularly in speed-agility and muscular strength abilities. Additionally, children in the MBTP group demonstrated improvement in SRS-2 performance in social awareness, social cognition, social communication, and autistic mannerisms, whereas no such changes were found in the control group. It may be concluded that the 12-week MBTP could improve physical fitness and social communication in preschool children with ASD, and thus the use of physical exercise intervention as a therapeutic tool for preschoolers with ASD is recommended.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Clinical Features of Celiac Disease in a Cohort of Italian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 3046
Author(s):  
Margherita Prosperi ◽  
Elisa Santocchi ◽  
Elena Brunori ◽  
Angela Cosenza ◽  
Raffaella Tancredi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Celiac Disease ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Immune System Dysfunction ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions whose etiopathogenesis derives from a complex interaction between genetic liability and environmental factors. In this framework, mounting evidence suggests that immune system dysfunction could be a risk factor contributing to the development of ASD in at least a subpopulation of individuals. In particular, some studies suggest an association between celiac disease (CD)—a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the small intestine triggered by the ingestion of gluten—and ASD, while others hypothesized a random link. This investigation aimed to evaluate the prevalence of CD in a large sample of school-aged children with ASD and to characterize their clinical profile. Methods: Medical records of 405 children with ASD aged 5–11 years (mean age: 7.2 years; SD: 1.8 years) consecutively referred to a tertiary-care university hospital between January 2014 and December 2018 were reviewed; among them, 362 had carried out serological testing for CD. Results: Nine patients with positive CD serology were identified, eight of which satisfied the criteria for CD diagnosis. The estimated CD prevalence in ASD children was 2.18% (95% CI, 0.8–3.7), which was not statistically different (1.58%; p = 0.36) from that of an Italian population, matched for age range, considered as a control group (95% CI, 1.26–1.90). Three out of the eight ASD patients with CD did not have any symptoms suggestive of CD. Conclusions: Our findings did not show a higher prevalence of CD in ASD children than in the control population, but could suggest the utility of routine CD screening, given its frequent atypical clinical presentation in this population.

The relationship between 2D:4D ratio and systemizing and empathy quotients in parents of people with autism spectrum disorders

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1750-1750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Á. Romero-Martínez ◽  
P. Sariñana-González ◽  
J.M. Roa Natividad ◽  
M.V. Sanchis-Calatayud ◽  
S. De Andrés-García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Psychological Variables ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Psychological Dimensions

IntroductionInterdigital 2D:4D ratio has been considered as an indicator of prenatal exposure to androgens, entailing then a smaller ratio more androgenisation. Although it has been related to systemizing and empathy dimensions in the general population, it has never been studied in parents of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).Objectives and aimsTo analyse the relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and these psychological variables in this population.MethodsThe sample was composed by parents of both genders of people with (n = 46) or without (n = 42) ASDs. The ratio was calculated as the mean of 3 measurements of each hand evaluated by 3 different researchers. Psychological dimensions were evaluated by means of the Systemizing and Empathy Quotients (SQ and EQ, respectively).ResultsParents of ASDs persons showed lower scores in the EQ than controls, being these differences replicated only in men. No differences between groups for the 2D:4D ratio were found. Nevertheless, regression analyses indicated that in parents of ASDs a higher 2D:4D left ratio predicted a higher EQ. This result was also observed in men but not in women. In any case, the model was not significant in the control group.ConclusionsParents of ASDs persons showed lower EQ than controls, being this quotient predicted by the left 2D:4D ratio only in the former. When analysing in each gender, these results are only obtained in men. Among other parameters, the D2:D4 ratio (especially the left hand one) could be considered a valid indicator of the ASDs parent's idiosyncrasy.

scholarly journals Improving Emotion Regulation with CBT in Young Children with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Study

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Scarpa ◽  
Nuri M. Reyes
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Young Children ◽  
High Functioning Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
Delayed Treatment ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Background and Aims: This pilot study tested the efficacy of a developmentally modified CBT for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) to teach emotion regulation strategies for reducing anger and anxiety, commonly noted problems in this population. Method: Eleven 5–7 year-old children participated in a CBT-group while parents participated in psychoeducation. Children were randomly assigned to an experimental or delayed-treatment control group. Results: From pre- to post-treatment, all children had less parent reported negativity/lability, better parent reported emotion regulation, and shorter outbursts, and also generated more coping strategies in response to vignettes. Parents also reported increases in their own confidence and their child's ability to deal with anger and anxiety. Conclusions: This study suggests that young children with high functioning ASD may benefit from CBT to improve regulation of anger and anxiety, and parent training may improve parental self-efficacy. Future studies are needed to make conclusions about its efficacy.

Role of the gut-brain axis in the eating behavior of children with autism spectrum disorders

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Siwek ◽  
Aleksandra Kawala-Janik ◽  
Piotr Walecki
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Digestive System ◽  
Bacterial Flora ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

AbstractIntroduction:The occurrence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has significantly increased in the last few years. One of the common problems in this group are eating disorders and ailments from the gastrointestinal systems. According to some studies, these problems have a significant impact on the occurrence and severity of symptoms in the neurological system, so it is crucial to increase the attention paid on the role of diet in the treatment of this disease. One of the theories connects ASD with disorders of the digestive system and the intestinal bacterial flora. This theory is based on the gut-brain axis, which means the interaction between the gastrointestinal and nervous systems.Objectives:To demonstrate the differences in behavior habits, interest in nutrition, and frequency of consumption of food products between children suffering from ASD and healthy children.Materials and methods:The study was conducted among 44 children suffering from ASD and 33 healthy children as a control group. Data were collected using a questionnaire that was specially designed for this study. The questionnaire contained questions about eating habits and the frequency of consumption of selected food products.Results:Parents of healthy children showed more interest in their children’s way of feeding and nutritional recommendations compared to parents of children with ASD (4% and 11.3%, respectively). In addition, 24.3% more children with ASD consulted with a nutritionist compared to the control group. Complaints of the digestive system were 21.1% more likely by children with ASD. Children suffering from ASD were characterized by a higher intake of red meat and giblets and less frequent consumption of milk and milk products compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant differences between the study group and the control group in terms of frequency of consumption of products, which are the source of gluten, artificial food additives-preservatives, and artificial colors.Conclusions:There are differences in the habits and eating behaviors and the frequency of consumption of selected food products between a group of children with ASD and a group of healthy children.

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