ArticleBrain and behavior2022
Improvement of sleep and melatonin in children with autism spectrum disorder after β-1,3/1,6-glucan consumption: An open-label prospective pilot clinical study.
Article in Brain and behavior, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Adaptogenic Effects of Mushroom Blend Supplementation on Stress, Fatigue, and Sleep: A Randomised, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Trial.Brain and behavior · 2026Trial
- Benefits of Gut Microbiota Reconstitution by Beta 1,3-1,6 Glucans in Subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases.Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD · 2023Trial
- Healing from the Ocean: Targeting Shared Mechanisms in Autism and Epilepsy Using Algae-Derived Compounds.Marine drugs · 2026Review
- Ketamine and Evolving Neuroplasticity.Clinical drug investigation · 2026Review
- Melatonin Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Sleep Regulation, Behavioral Outcomes, and Challenges Across the Lifespan.Molecular neurobiology · 2025Review
- Butyrate improves abnormal sleep architecture in a Parkinson's disease mouse model via BDNF/TrkB signaling.NPJ Parkinson's disease · 2025Article
- Harnessing the Gut Microbiome: To What Extent Can Pre-/Probiotics Alleviate Immune Activation in Autism Spectrum Disorder?Nutrients · 2024Review
- Qualitative Evaluation of α-Synuclein: A Critical Step in Unravelling the Complexities of Autism Spectrum Disorder.Medical principles and practice : international journal of the Kuwait University, Health Science Centre · 2023Article
- I. IDC Key-note Lecture: Trained immunity: a memory for innate host defense.Journal of stem cells & regenerative medicine · 2023Article
- Improvement of sleep and melatonin in children with autism spectrum disorder after β-1,3/1,6-glucan consumption: An open-label prospective pilot clinical study.Brain and behavior · 2022Article
- Two unique biological response-modifier glucans beneficially regulating gut microbiota and faecal metabolome in a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis animal model, with potential applications in human health and disease.BMJ open gastroenterology · 2022Article
- Improvement of behavioural pattern and alpha-synuclein levels in autism spectrum disorder after consumption of a beta-glucan food supplement in a randomised, parallel-group pilot clinical study.BMJ neurology open · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 9 institutions in 5 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionPoor sleep quality is a major problem in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and is attributed to low melatonin levels. Melatonin supplementation is recommended; however, its effectiveness varies. β-Glucans have previously been shown to improve melatonin levels in animal studies. Herein, we examined the effectiveness of Aureobasidium pullulans (Nichi Glucan), a species of black yeast that contains beta-1,3/1,6-glucan, in a pilot study of children with ASD.
methodsThirteen children (age, 2.5-13 years) with ASD were recruited for the study. The control group consisted of four patients (Gr. 1), while nine patients were classified into the treatment group (Gr. 2). Gr. 2 received 1 g of Nichi Glucan along with conventional therapy, whereas the Gr. 1 (control) patients received conventional therapy alone for 90 days. Serum melatonin levels and sleep patterns, assessed using a subjective questionnaire, were evaluated before and after treatment.
resultsIn Gr. 2, the average serum melatonin level increased from 238.85 ng/L preintervention to 394.72 ng/L postintervention. Eight of nine participants (88%) in Gr. 2 showed improvements in sleep pattern and quality, while no improvement was observed in the participants in Gr. 1.
conclusionThe consumption of Nichi Glucan for 90 days resulted in visible improvement in sleep quality, sleep pattern, and serum melatonin levels, which was reported for the first time by our study. A larger multicenter study is required to validate our findings.
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