Poop pills for autism? small study tests gut bacteria fix

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Providing informed consent for participation in the study by the child's legal representative - parent or legal guardian. * Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder according to DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria. * Ability to swallow an empty test capsule identical in shape and size to the investigational product * Abnormal stool consistency observed by parents for at least 2 months prior to study inclusion. Patients with an average stool consistency greater than 5 on the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) during the baseline period will be classified as having diarrhea. Patients with an average stool consistency less than 3 on the Bristol Stool Form Scale during the baseline period will be classified as having constipation. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of a gastrointestinal disease such as celiac disease, food allergy, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, chronic liver disease, eosinophilic esophagitis, peptic ulcer disease of the stomach or duodenum, Hirschsprung's disease. * Primary or secondary immunodeficiency, including absolute neutrophil count in peripheral blood \<1500 measured within 28 days prior to planned FMT. * History of surgery involving disruption of intestinal continuity within 3 months prior to study inclusion. * Lactose or fructose intolerance. Patients with lactose intolerance who follow an elimination diet and still experience symptoms may be included in the study. * Malnutrition defined as Body Mass Index (BMI) below the 3rd percentile based on Polish growth charts from 2010. * Overweight or obesity defined as BMI above the 85th percentile based on Polish growth charts from 2010. * Active infection requiring antibiotic therapy. * Expected use of antibiotics during participation in the study. * Use of probiotics during participation in the study. * Inability to undergo bowel cleansing therapy (Dicopeg Endo). * Inability to swallow an empty test capsule. * Lack of consent from the child's legal representative - parent or legal guardian - for participation in the study.