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Effect of L-Carnosine as adjunctive therapy in the management of children with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized controlled study.

  • 2020-11-10
  • Amino acids 52(11-12)
    • Debi Ann Abraham
    • Udayakumar Narasimhan
    • Senta Christy
    • Rajanandh Muhasaparur Ganesan

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population
children aged 3-6 years with a diagnosis of mild to moderate ASD
Methods
Randomized controlled trial, children assigned to standard care arm (occupational and speech therapy) and intervention care arm (L-Carnosine, 10-15 mg/kg in 2 divided doses) plus standard care treatment
Duration
2 months
L-Carnosine is an amino acid that acts as an anti-oxidant, anti-toxic and neuroprotective agent. There is a paucity of data about the effectiveness of L-Carnosine in the management of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of L-Carnosine as adjunctive therapy in the management of ASD. This was a randomized controlled trial. Children aged 3-6 years with a diagnosis of mild to moderate ASD were assigned to standard care arm (occupational and speech therapy) and intervention care arm (L-Carnosine, 10-15 mg/kg in 2 divided doses) plus standard care treatment. The children were assessed at the baseline and the end of 2 months for the scores of Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition-Standard Version (CARS2-ST), Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), BEARS sleep screening tool and 6-item Gastrointestinal Severity Index (6-GSI). Of the sixty-seven children enrolled, sixty-three children had completed the study. No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed for any of the outcome measures assessed. Supplementation of L-Carnosine did not improve the total score of CARS2-ST, ATEC, BEARS sleep screening tool and 6-GSI scores of children with ASD. Further investigations are needed with more objective assessments to critically validate the effectiveness of L-Carnosine on ASD children for more decisive results.

Research Insights

  • L-Carnosine→Reduced Autism Rating Scale Score

    Supplementation of L-Carnosine did not improve the total score of CARS2-ST, ATEC, BEARS sleep screening tool and 6-GSI scores of children with ASD.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    10-15 mg/kg in 2 divided doses
  • L-Carnosine→Reduced Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist Score

    Supplementation of L-Carnosine did not improve the total score of CARS2-ST, ATEC, BEARS sleep screening tool and 6-GSI scores of children with ASD.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    10-15 mg/kg in 2 divided doses
  • L-Carnosine→Reduced Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity

    Supplementation of L-Carnosine did not improve the total score of CARS2-ST, ATEC, BEARS sleep screening tool and 6-GSI scores of children with ASD.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    10-15 mg/kg in 2 divided doses
  • L-Carnosine→Reduced Sleep Disturbance Score

    Supplementation of L-Carnosine did not improve the total score of CARS2-ST, ATEC, BEARS sleep screening tool and 6-GSI scores of children with ASD.

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    10-15 mg/kg in 2 divided doses
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