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Randomized Controlled Trial of Omega-3 and −6 Fatty Acid Supplementation to Reduce Inflammatory Markers in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

S. Keim, A. Jude, Katie Smith, Aiman Q. Khan, D. Coury, J. Rausch, Shivika Udaipuria, Megan N. Norris et al.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2022

18 citations

Abstract

This double-blind, randomized controlled trial, tested fatty acid (FA) supplementation in children (ages 2- < 6 years) recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants received daily oral FA supplement containing omega-3 and omega-6 FA, or a placebo for 90 days based on participant weight. Erythrocyte FAs and the cytokines, IL-1β, IL-2, IFNγ, were measured in plasma obtained from serial blood collections. Treatment increased omega-3 and omega-6 FA levels (1.40 mol% for EPA and 1.62 mol% for DHA) and reduced IL-2 levels compared to placebo (− 0.17 pg/mL, 95% CI − 0.31, − 0.02, d = − 0.62). Omega 3–6 treatment was tolerable and adherence was greater than 70%. Future research will assess the effects of Omega 3–6 treatment on ASD symptoms. Registered on 06/08/2018 with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03550209.

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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.

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