Autism Studies and Related Medical Conditions, January 2009 - TACA

give description of open and double-blind studies of naltrexone in autism. Naltrexone
has been tested in several open studies. We performed an open trial with naltrexone in
2 autistic girls, displaying serious self-injurious behavior, reduced crying and a marked
preference for salty and spicy foods, symptoms that could be related to a dysfunction of
the opioid system. With dosages of 1 mg/kg/day, we observed an immediate reduction
of hyperactivity, self-injurious behavior and aggressiveness, while attention improved.
In addition, social behaviors, smiling, social seeking behaviors and play interactions
increased (Leboyer, Bouvard et Dugas, 1988). Campbell et al. (1988) has also reported
a tranquilizing and a stimulating effect in 6 out of 8 children with autism. We did
confirm these preliminary results in a double-blind study performed on 4 children with
autism. In a cross-over double-blind study, three dosages of naltrexone (0.5, 1 and 2
mg/kg/day) and placebo were compared. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Fukudome S, Yoshikawa M: Gluten exorphin C, A novel opioid peptide derived from
wheat gluten. FEBS 1993; 316: 17-19.
Abstract: Research Control Department, Nisshin Flour Milling Co., Ltd., Nihonbashi,
Tokyo, Japan.
A novel opioid peptide, Tyr-Pro-Ile-Ser-Leu, was isolated from the pepsin-trypsinchymotrypsin
digest of wheat gluten. Its IC50 values were 40 microM and 13.5 microM
in the GPI and MVD assays, respectively. This peptide was named gluten exorphin C.
Gluten exorphin C had a structure quite different from any of the endogenous and
exogenous opioid peptides ever reported in that the N terminal Tyr was the only
aromatic amino acid. The analogs containing Tyr-Pro-X-Ser-Leu were synthesized to
study its structure-activity relationship. Peptides in which X was an aromatic amino acid
or an aliphatic hydrophobic amino acid had opioid activity.
Bidet B, Leboyer M, Descours B, Bouvard MP, Benveniste J: Allergic sensitization
in infantile autism. J Autism Dev Disord 1993 Jun;23(2):419-20. [No abstract available.]
McLaughlin P.J., Zagon I.S.: Endogenous opiod systems and clinical implications for
infantile autism. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Neurobiology of
Infantile Autism, Tokyo , 1990, Neurobiology of Infantile Autism, Excerpta Medica 1992.
Lensing P, Klingler D, Lampl C, Leboyer M, Bouvard M, Plumet MH, Panksepp
J: Naltrexone open trial with a 5-year-old-boy. A social rebound reaction. Acta
Paedopsychiatr 1992;55(3):169-73.
Abstract: School Psychology of Upper Austria, Linz.
The neurobiological rationale for an opiate antagonist pharmacotherapy of autism is
presented. Naltrexone efficacy in decreasing autistic behaviour and in increasing socialaffiliative
behaviour was explored in a 5-year-old autistic boy. Naltrexone (0.5 mg/kg 3
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