Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 28: A major international study has found that there is insufficient strong evidence to support the use of complementary and alternative treatments — including acupuncture, music therapy, probiotics, and herbal medicine — for individuals with autism. The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour on Thursday, also raised concerns over the lack of safety evaluations in most clinical research involving these therapies.

Conducted by researchers from Paris Nanterre University, Paris Cité University in France, and the University of Southampton in the UK, the study reviewed 248 meta-analyses drawn from 200 clinical trials involving over 10,000 participants. It assessed the efficacy and safety of 19 types of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicines (CAIMs) used to support autistic individuals.

The review concluded that most of the treatments lacked rigorous scientific backing, with many studies deemed to be of low or poor quality. Moreover, fewer than half of the therapies had any assessment of adverse effects, acceptability, or tolerability, raising ethical and clinical concerns about their widespread use.

“Many parents of autistic children, as well as autistic adults, turn to complementary and alternative medicines hoping they may help without unwanted side effects,” said Professor Richard Delorme, Head of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit at Robert Debré Hospital in Paris.

“However, it is necessary to carefully consider evidence from rigorous randomised trials before concluding that these treatments should be tried.”

The team investigated therapies such as animal-assisted interventions, acupuncture, music therapy, vitamin D supplementation, and probiotics, among others. While some showed limited potential, the researchers stressed that current evidence is not strong enough to justify their clinical use.

Autistic individuals often experience challenges in communication, sensory processing, and anxiety, which can significantly affect their quality of life. As a result, up to 90% report using some form of CAIM during their lifetime — often in the absence of clear evidence or guidance.

To help address this gap, the researchers have also developed an online platform to provide transparent access to the data generated through their study — aimed at helping families, practitioners, and autistic individuals make more informed decisions.

The study underscores the urgent need for higher-quality research and better safety monitoring before complementary and alternative treatments can be recommended in autism care.