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Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
A novel synbiotic (SCM06) for anxiety and sensory hyperresponsiveness in children with autism spectrum disorder: an
Oscar W H Wong1,2, Zhilu Xu3,4, Sandra S M Chan1,2
1Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Abstract:
Anxiety and sensory hyperresponsiveness are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but effective treatments are lacking. Targeting the microbiota-gut-brain axis is a promising strategy. This open-label pilot study evaluated SCM06, a novel synbiotic designed to target anxiety and sensory hyperresponsiveness, in 30 children with ASD (mean age 8.2 years, 22 males). We assessed symptom improvement, compliance, and safety, and collected stool samples for metagenomics and metabolomic analysis over 12 weeks. SCM06 was safe and well-tolerated, and significant improvements were observed in anxiety, sensory hyperresponsiveness, and abdominal pain. Following SCM06 treatment, increase in Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum was associated with improved functional abdominal pain (p = 0.0011, p_adj = 0.054), while the abundances of valeric acid and butyric acid increased (p_adj = 0.004 and p_adj = 0.072). Key microbial species, Coprococcus comes and Veillonella dispar, were candidate mediators of symptom improvements. Further randomised controlled trials are warranted to confirm its clinical efficacy.
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