Fatty acids, Breastfeeding and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Prior research studies suggest that maternal polyunsaturated fatty acids could have protective effects on neurodevelopmental outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine associations between maternal polyunsaturated fatty acid intake during pregnancy and risk for autism spectrum disorder and other non-typical development in a prospective cohort. Eligible women already had a child with autism spectrum disorder and were planning a pregnancy or were pregnant with another child. Children were clinically assessed longitudinally and diagnosed at 36 months. Maternal polyunsaturated fatty acid intake during pregnancy was estimated using food frequency questionnaires. Maternal third-trimester plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration was measured by gas chromatography. In all, 258 mother–child pairs were included. Mothers consuming more total omega-3 in the second half of pregnancy were 40% less likely to have children with autism spectrum disorder (relative risk = 0.6, 95% confidence interval: 0.3–0.98). No significant associations were observed between maternal third-trimester plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid subtype concentrations and risk of autism spectrum disorder. However, higher plasma eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid concentrations were associated with lower non-typical development risk (relative risk ranging from 0.47 to 0.88). This study provides suggestive evidence of associations between risk of autism spectrum disorder in the children and maternal omega-3 intake in late pregnancy but not with third-trimester plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids. Further research is needed to evaluate these potential relationships. Lay abstract Prior studies suggest that maternal polyunsaturated fatty acids intake during pregnancy may have protective effects on autism spectrum disorder in their children. However, they did not examine detailed timing of maternal polyunsaturated fatty acid intake during pregnancy, nor did they evaluate plasma concentrations. This study investigates whether maternal polyunsaturated fatty acids in defined time windows of pregnancy, assessed by both questionnaires and biomarkers, are associated with risk of autism spectrum disorder and other non-typical development in the children. Food frequency questionnaires were used to estimate maternal polyunsaturated fatty acid intake during the first and second half of pregnancy. Gas chromatography measured maternal plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in the third trimester. In all, 258 mother–child pairs from a prospective cohort were included. All mothers already had a child with autism spectrum disorder and were planning a pregnancy or pregnant with another child. Children were clinically assessed longitudinally and diagnosed at 36 months. For polyunsaturated fatty acid intake from questionnaires, we only found mothers consuming more omega-3 in the second half of pregnancy were 40% less likely to have children with autism spectrum disorder. For polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in the third-trimester plasma, we did not observe any statistical significance in relation to the risk of autism spectrum disorder. However, our study confirmed associations from previous studies between higher maternal docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid plasma concentrations in the late pregnancy and reduced risk for non-typical development. This study markedly advanced understandings of whether and when maternal polyunsaturated fatty acid intake influences risk for autism spectrum disorder and sets the stage for prevention at the behavioral and educational level.

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Comprehensive Guide to Autism ◽

10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_148 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 2427-2433 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Robert H. Belmaker ◽

Gal Meiri

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3

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Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Newborn Bloodspots: Associations With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Correlation With Maternal Serum Levels

Autism Research ◽

10.1002/aur.2365 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 1601-1613

Author(s):

Anna Bostwick ◽

Nathaniel W. Snyder ◽

Gayle C. Windham ◽

Casey Whitman ◽

Michelle Pearl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Maternal Serum ◽

Spectrum Disorder

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Vitamin D and Omega-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Improve Behavioural Symptoms in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/proceedings2019008058 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 58

Author(s):

Hajar Mazahery ◽

Cathryn A. Conlon ◽

Kathryn L. Beck ◽

Owen Mugridge ◽

Marlena C. Kruger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Behavioural Symptoms ◽

Long Chain

Background: The efficacy of vitamin D and omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated [...]

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Relationship between the effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on brain plasticity and the improvement on cognition and behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Nutritional Neuroscience ◽

10.1080/1028415x.2020.1755793 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Isabel Barón-Mendoza ◽

Aliesha González-Arenas

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

And Behavior

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Potential Role of L-Carnitine in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10061202 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1202

Author(s):

Alina Kępka ◽

Agnieszka Ochocińska ◽

Sylwia Chojnowska ◽

Małgorzata Borzym-Kluczyk ◽

Ewa Skorupa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Fatty Acid Metabolism ◽

Acid Metabolism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Carnitine Deficiency ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Respiratory Chain Complexes ◽

Carnitine Metabolism

L-carnitine plays an important role in the functioning of the central nervous system, and especially in the mitochondrial metabolism of fatty acids. Altered carnitine metabolism, abnormal fatty acid metabolism in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been documented. ASD is a complex heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition that is usually diagnosed in early childhood. Patients with ASD require careful classification as this heterogeneous clinical category may include patients with an intellectual disability or high functioning, epilepsy, language impairments, or associated Mendelian genetic conditions. L-carnitine participates in the long-chain oxidation of fatty acids in the brain, stimulates acetylcholine synthesis (donor of the acyl groups), stimulates expression of growth-associated protein-43, prevents cell apoptosis and neuron damage and stimulates neurotransmission. Determination of L-carnitine in serum/plasma and analysis of acylcarnitines in a dried blood spot may be useful in ASD diagnosis and treatment. Changes in the acylcarnitine profiles may indicate potential mitochondrial dysfunctions and abnormal fatty acid metabolism in ASD children. L-carnitine deficiency or deregulation of L-carnitine metabolism in ASD is accompanied by disturbances of other metabolic pathways, e.g., Krebs cycle, the activity of respiratory chain complexes, indicative of mitochondrial dysfunction. Supplementation of L-carnitine may be beneficial to alleviate behavioral and cognitive symptoms in ASD patients.

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