Bone Mass Accrual in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This is a observational study to investigate the degree to which bone mineral density is impaired in boys with autism compared with typically developing controls.

Detailed Description
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Studies have shown that bone cortical thickness is decreased in children with autism and other developmental disabilities. However it is not known whether bone mineral density (BMD) of these children is lower; neither is it known whether there is any correlation between BMD and the child's diet. The overall goal of this study is to improve the long term health of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder; more specifically the investigators aim to develop a pilot study to investigate the degree to which BMD is impaired in boys with autism and to explore specific additional risk factors. In addition, the aim is to investigate the degree to which BMD is impaired in boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and to explore specific contributing risk factors including nutritional analysis.

Official Title
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Bone Mass Accrual in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Conditions
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Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bone Diseases, Developmental

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Boys 8-17 years chronological age BMI between the 3rd and 97th percentiles Meets DSM-IV criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD group) Scores <15 on the Social Communication Questionnaire (control group) Exclusion Criteria: Use of medications directly affecting bone metabolism including estrogen/ progesterone preparations and glucocorticoids except local application of glucocorticoid Use of anticonvulsants which affect bone density including diphenylhydantoin, phenobarbital, topiramate carbamazepine and valproic acid and also use of lithium Children with diseases known to affect bone mineral density including Crohn's disease, celiac, thyroid and renal Children who will not tolerate lying still for 30 seconds

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 8 Years
Maximum Age: 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Typically developing controls<br>Boys between ages 7 and 14 years old at study onset without medications or diseases impairing bone development | |
| Autism spectrum disorder<br>Boys between ages 7 and 14 years old at study onset without medications or diseases impairing bone development | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bone Mineral Density | using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (Hologic Discovery A, Software Version: APEX 4.0.2, Bedford, MA USA) at the total hip, femoral neck, lumbar spine (L1-4), whole body and whole body less head bone mineral density. | Bone mineral density will be assessed within one month of enrolling in the study. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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bone mineral density, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism