Impact of Palm dates fruit intake in the alleviation of gastrointestinal manifestations of autistic children: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract Aim: This study aimed at evaluating the regular intake of palm dates fruit for 12 weeks in alleviating gastrointestinal (GI) severity symptoms among autistic Egyptian children aged 3-12 years and exploring predictors for non-responsiveness to its intake. Methodology: 183 Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of three regimens with completed analysis as follows; 1st: 3 dates fruit/day (47 cases), 2nd: 5 dates fruit/day (42 cases), and 3rd: non-dates group (42 cases). Responders were those who showed a reduction of GI symptoms from High- to Low- GI-Problems based on the GI Severity Index score (6-GSI) Results: There was an improvement in the GI severity symptoms with a significant reduction from the baseline of constipation and stool smell scores for the two dates fruit regimens than the non-dates group (p<0.001). 76.4 % of participants on the dates fruit regimens were responders versus 23.6 %. The study identified a deficiency of the baseline level of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium species’ log, any pathogenic microorganisms in participants’ stool, and those at inevitable risk of malnutrition as predictors for non-responsiveness to dates fruit intake. Conclusion: The current study confirmed the beneficial impact of dates fruit regular intake as a remedy for severe GI symptoms.