Could a gut supplement ease autism symptoms? new trial investigates

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

Inclusion Criteria: * Group 1 and 2: Inclusion criteria * Diagnosis of ASD according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria; * Clinical neurological evaluation by child neurologist and neuropsychologist with administration of standardized instruments such as Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2) and/or Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) to support diagnosis; * Assessment of psychomotor or intellectual development (Griffiths Scales, Wechsler Scales, Leiter Scale) * Assessment of the following symptoms in the past three months: constipation, diarrhea, abnormal stool consistency, abnormal stool smell, flatulence, abdominal pain, unexplained daytime irritability, and nighttime awakening, and abdominal tenderness. The degree of gastrointestinal disturbances will be quantified before recruitment using an Italian version of the GI Severity Index. A score of at least 2 in a single item of gastrointestinal symptoms (item 1-6) was required for entry into the symptomatic group. * Signed informed consent for analysis of intestinal microbiota and metabolome and administration of nutraceutical therapy with PostbiotiX Comfort ®. Group 3 Inclusion criteria * Males or females aged between 3 and 8 years whit typical development and absence of gastrointestinal symtomps * Signed informed consent for analysis of intestinal microbiota and metabolome Exclusion Criteria: Group 1 and 2 * Exclusion Criteria * Children with syndromic ASD or defined genetic diseases; * Subjects with significant health problems requiring surgical treatment or continuous medical; treatment; * Severe gastrointestinal problems requiring immediate (life-threatening) treatment; * Severely underweight/malnourished children; * Use of medications that may affect biomarkers assessed, for example: antibiotics and/or pre-, probiotics within 1 month prior to enrollment. Group 3 exclusion criteria \- Participants with gastrointestinal problems requiring immediate (life-threatening) treatment, or with gastrointestinal symptoms such as chronic irregular bowel movements (constipation, diarrhea), encopresis, recurrent abdominal bloating and pain, gastroesophageal reflux and vomiting, or food aversion.