Oxytocin Effects on Bone in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Recruiting now · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bone Health
In brief
This is a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of intranasal oxytocin on bone health in children with autism spectrum disorder, ages 6-18 years old. Subjects will be randomized to receive intranasal oxytocin or placebo (30 IU, 2 times daily) for 12 months in the double-blind phase, followed by a 6-month open label phase during which all study subjects will receive intranasal oxytocin (30 IU, 2 times daily). Study visits include screening to determine eligibility, followed by study visits at baseline, week 2, and months 6, 12, 18 and phone calls every two weeks for the first two months and monthly thereafter for the duration of the study. Study assessments include history and physical examinations, anthropometric measurements, electrocardiogram (EKG), adverse event monitoring, laboratory tests for chemistries, hormones and biomarkers for bone metabolism, questionnaires regarding diet and exercise, and imaging to assess body composition, bone density and structure.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT05754073
- Run by
- Elizabeth Austen Lawson
- People needed
- 96
- Starts
- 2023-08-01
- Expected to finish
- 2028-08-31
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-03-02
Who can join
Age: 6 and older, up to 18. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Ages 6 to 18 years old at Randomization
- BMI greater than or equal to the 5th percentile
- Expert clinical diagnosis of ASD
- Availability of parent/guardian to provide informed consent
You may not qualify if…
- Fragile X, tuberous sclerosis, William's syndrome, Angelman's syndrome, Noonan syndrome, and other single gene defects that are syndromic and affect heart or bone density
- Other conditions that may contribute to low bone density (e.g., hypogonadism)
- Medications that may impact bone other than calcium or vitamin D supplementation, other than calcium or vitamin D supplementation, such as specific anti-seizure medications (Phenytoin, Phenobarbital), oral glucocorticoids, hormonal contraceptive injection (Medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera)
- Hyponatremia
- Liver enzymes (AST, ALT, and Bilirubin) more than three times the upper limit of the normal range
- Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60
- Substance use disorder within the last 6 months
- History of known coronary artery disease, heart failure, reduced ejection fraction, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ventricular arrhythmias, or prolonged QT (QTc greater than or equal to 480 msec)
- Active seizures within 6 months preceding the Screening visit or the Baseline visit
- Subjects who are pregnant, lactating, or who refuse contraception if sexually active
- Subjects who have had previous treatment with OXT (within 2 months of Randomization)
- Subjects who are not able to cooperate with medication administration, blood drawing, or imaging procedures despite behavior training
- Caregivers who are unable to speak English, be consistently present at study visits to report on symptoms or, per the judgement of the data collection team, are unable to comply with the protocol
- Any significant illness, condition, medication, or medical device that the Investigator determines could interfere with study participation and impact data collection or subject safety
Where it is running
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (enrolling)
- University of Virginia Medical Center — Charlottesville, Virginia, United States (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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