de Diego-Otero, YolandaCalvo-Medina, RocioQuintero-Navarro, CarolinaSánchez-Salido, LourdesGarcía-Guirado, Franciscodel Arco-Herrera, IgnacioFernández-Carvajal, IsabelFerrando-Lucas, TeresaCaballero-Andaluz, RafaelaPérez-Costillas, Lucia2015-12-022015-12-022014-09-03de Diego-Otero Y, Calvo-Medina R, Quintero-Navarro C, Sánchez-Salido L, García-Guirado F, del Arco-Herrera l, et al. A combination of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol to test the effectiveness and safety in the fragile X syndrome: study protocol for a phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Trials. 2014; 15:345http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2095Clinical Trial, Phase II; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;BACKGROUND Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is an inherited neurodevelopmental condition characterised by behavioural, learning disabilities, physical and neurological symptoms. In addition, an important degree of comorbidity with autism is also present. Considered a rare disorder affecting both genders, it first becomes apparent during childhood with displays of language delay and behavioural symptoms.Main aim: To show whether the combination of 10 mg/kg/day of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and 10 mg/kg/day of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) reduces FXS symptoms among male patients ages 6 to 18 years compared to placebo treatment, as measured on the standardized rating scales at baseline, and after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment.Secondary aims: To assess the safety of the treatment. To describe behavioural and cognitive changes revealed by the Developmental Behaviour Checklist Short Form (DBC-P24) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. To describe metabolic changes revealed by blood analysis. To measure treatment impact at home and in an academic environment. METHODS/DESIGN A phase II randomized, double-blind pilot clinical trial. SCOPE male children and adolescents diagnosed with FXS, in accordance with a standardized molecular biology test, who met all the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria. INSTRUMENTATION clinical data, blood analysis, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, Conners parent and teacher rating scale scores and the DBC-P24 results will be obtained at the baseline (t0). Follow up examinations will take place at 12 weeks (t1) and 24 weeks (t2) of treatment. DISCUSSION A limited number of clinical trials have been carried out on children with FXS, but more are necessary as current treatment possibilities are insufficient and often provoke side effects. In the present study, we sought to overcome possible methodological problems by conducting a phase II pilot study in order to calculate the relevant statistical parameters and determine the safety of the proposed treatment. The results will provide evidence to improve hyperactivity control and reduce behavioural and learning problems using ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and α-tocopherol (vitamin E). The study protocol was approved by the Regional Government Committee for Clinical Trials in Andalusia and the Spanish agency for drugs and health products. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01329770 (29 March 2011).enAntioxidantsExperimental treatmentFragile X syndromeOxidative stressTrialSíndrome del cromosoma X frágilÁcido ascórbicoAlfa-tocoferolEspañaResultado del tratamientoMasculinoMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Behavior::Adolescent BehaviorMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Human Development::Adolescent DevelopmentMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Chemical Actions and Uses::Pharmacologic Actions::Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action::AntioxidantsMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Chemical Actions and Uses::Pharmacologic Actions::Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action::AntioxidantsMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Biological Factors::Biological MarkersMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation::Quality of Health Care::Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms::Data Collection::ChecklistMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::ChildMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Behavior::Child BehaviorMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Physiological Phenomena::Physiological Processes::Growth and Development::Human Development::Child DevelopmentMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Therapeutics::Clinical ProtocolsMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Mental Processes::CognitionMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Pharmaceutical Preparations::Drug CombinationsMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities::Congenital Abnormalities::Chromosome Disorders::Sex Chromosome Disorders::Fragile X SyndromeMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::MaleMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Epidemiologic Study Characteristics as Topic::Pilot ProjectsMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Methods::Research DesignMedical Subject Headings::Geographicals::Geographic Locations::Europe::SpainMedical Subject Headings::Phenomena and Processes::Physical Phenomena::Time::Time FactorsMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Diagnosis::Prognosis::Treatment OutcomeMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavioral Disciplines and Activities::Psychological Tests::Aptitude Tests::Intelligence Tests::Wechsler ScalesMedical Subject Headings::Chemicals and Drugs::Heterocyclic Compounds::Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring::Benzopyrans::Vitamin E::Tocopherols::alpha-TocopherolMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::AdolescentA combination of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol to test the effectiveness and safety in the fragile X syndrome: study protocol for a phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.research article25187257open access10.1186/1745-6215-15-3451745-6215PMC4168067