一项试点研究：家长对自闭症谱系障碍患儿食用高抗氧化可可后行为变化的看法。
A Pilot Study: Parent Perceptions of Behavior Change in Their Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder Following High Antioxidant Cacao Consumption.
作者信息
Sadek Amy, Berk Lee S, Mainess Karen, Daher Noha S
出版信息
Integr Med (Encinitas). 2018 Oct;17(5):31-38.
BACKGROUND
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurocognitive disorder with primary symptomology related to maladaptive behaviors and communication deficits. Children with ASD tend to have higher free radicals than antioxidants compared with their matched controls. This disequilibrium of oxidative stress has been associated with the pathogenesis of this neurocognitive disorder. The aim of this pilot feasibility study was to examine the effect of high antioxidant cacao consumption on behavior in children with ASD.
METHODS
This was a 4-wk repeated measures experimental pilot study of high antioxidant cacao and children with ASD. Participants consumed 8 squares (or 16 g) per day of the dark chocolate that had a concentration of 70% cacao and 30% organic cane sugar (total antioxidant activity was 8320 μmoles TE/100 g). The 2 main behavioral measures, Aberrant Behavior Checklist, 2nd ed (ABC-2) and the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale (ASRS), were completed by the child's parent at baseline, end of week 2, and end of week 4.
RESULTS
Seventeen participants were recruited for this study. Follow-up data were available for 16 participants (12 males, 4 females, aged 4 to 17 y). Significant improvements were noted on the ABC-2 subscales of irritability (P = .03, η= 0.25), social withdrawal (P = .01, η= 0.29), stereotypic behavior (P = .05, η = 0.13), hyperactivity/noncompliance ( = .04, η = 0.20), and inappropriate speech ( = .05, η = 0.16). Significant improvements were noted on the ASRS subscales of social/communication ( = .04, η = 0.25), unusual behaviors (P = .003, η= 0.20), self-regulation (P = .02, η= 0.32), and total scores (P < .001, η= 0.54).
CONCLUSION
Results from this study support previous literature on antioxidant intake as an adjunct therapy to improve behaviors of children with ASD. More robust randomized controlled trials are now necessary to validate and elaborate on these findings.
背景
自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）是一种异质性神经认知障碍，其主要症状与适应不良行为和沟通缺陷有关。与匹配的对照组相比，患有ASD的儿童体内自由基往往比抗氧化剂更多。这种氧化应激的失衡与这种神经认知障碍的发病机制有关。这项初步可行性研究的目的是检验食用高抗氧化剂可可对ASD儿童行为的影响。
方法
这是一项针对高抗氧化剂可可与ASD儿童的为期4周的重复测量实验性初步研究。参与者每天食用8块（或16克）浓度为70%可可和30%有机蔗糖的黑巧克力（总抗氧化活性为8320微摩尔TE/100克）。两项主要行为指标，即第二版异常行为检查表（ABC-2）和自闭症谱系评定量表（ASRS），由孩子的家长在基线、第2周结束时和第4周结束时完成。
结果
本研究招募了17名参与者。16名参与者（12名男性，4名女性，年龄4至17岁）有随访数据。在ABC-2量表的易激惹（P = 0.03，η = 0.25）、社交退缩（P = 0.01，η = 0.29）、刻板行为（P = 0.05，η = 0.13）、多动/不依从（P = 0.04，η = 0.20）和言语不当（P = 0.05，η = 0.16）分量表上有显著改善。在ASRS量表的社交/沟通（P = 0.04，η = 0.25）、异常行为（P = 0.003，η = 0.20）、自我调节（P = 0.02，η = 0.32）分量表和总分（P < 0.001，η = 0.54）上有显著改善。
结论
本研究结果支持先前关于摄入抗氧化剂作为辅助疗法改善ASD儿童行为的文献。现在需要更有力的随机对照试验来验证和详细阐述这些发现。
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