Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is the fastest growing developmental disorder in the United States, according to the Autism Society. Nearly 1 percent of children ages 3 to 17 suffers from some form of autism, with 1 out of every 110 births developing the disorder. These statistics and the fact that there is no cure or treatment causes parents to search for alternative treatments to lessen the symptoms. Many parents give their autistic child nutritional supplements, with omega-3 fatty acids being one of the most common.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation, which makes them important for reducing your risk of heart disease, cancer and arthritis. Your brain contains high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, making them a nutrient of interest when studying autism. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that omega-3 fatty acids play a vital role in normal brain function and that increasing your intake may affect brain memory, performance and behavior.
Effect on Hyperactivity
A study published in the August 2010 issue of the "Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders" tested the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in reducing hyperactivity in autistic children ages 3 to 8. One group of children received omega-3 fatty acids each day for 12 weeks while another received safflower oil to serve as the placebo. Doctors measured hyperactivity using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, called the ABC test. The results of this study found that taking omega-3 fatty acids improved the ABC score by 2.7 points compared to a 0.3 point improvement in the placebo group. Although not statistically significant, this study suggests that omega-3 fatty acids can provide small to moderate beneficial effects for children with autism.
Nutrient Versus Medication
A study published in the April 2010 issue of the "Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology" looked at the effects of taking nutrients for autism in relation to the effects of medications. One group of autistic children received a broad-based micronutrient supplement while the other group took medications to reduce their symptoms. At the end of the study each patient revealed whether they also took omega-3 fatty acids; 24 patient in the micronutrient group and 8 in the medication group took omega-3 fatty acid supplements. The study results found that taking fish oil, the source of the omega-3 fatty acids, produced no significant effect in reducing autism symptoms.
Systemic Review
The March 2009 issue of the "Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorder" included a research study that conducted a systemic review of previous studies looking at the use of omega-3 fatty acids to treat autistic children. Only six research studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. After reviewing the clinical findings of each study the systemic review concluded that although many parents choose to administer omega-3 fatty acid supplements to their autistic children, scientific evidence for its safety and effectiveness is lacking. This study suggests additional randomized controlled studies using omega-3 fatty acids to treat autism be conducted and that they focus on the possible benefit of improving hyperactivity.
References
- Autism Society: Facts and Statistics
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Stephen Ehrlich; June 2009
- "Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders"; A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Autism Spectrum; Bent et. al.; August 2010
- "Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology"; Mircornutrients versus Standard Medication Management in Autism -- A Naturalistic Case-Control Study; Mehl-Madrona et. al.; April 2010
- "Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorder"; Omega-3 Fatty acids for Autistic Spectrum Disorder -- A Systemic Review; Bent et. al.; March 2009
- "Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America"; Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders; Levy et. al.; October 2008
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