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# Prenatal intake of omega 6 fat may boost autism risk
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/omega_6_fat_may_boost_autism_risk_1222120347/
- Published: 2012-12-22T16:46:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:12:49.000Z
- Description: Mice whose mothers ate a diet rich in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy and nursing showed poorer sociability as adults, a trait seen in people with autism, along with more anxiety on the elevated plus maze.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Saturday Dec 22, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Many people link increasing cases of autism to use of pediatric vaccines. Many blame environmental pollution. But a new study suggests that eating too much omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids found abundantly in vegetable oils may increase the risk of autism.

The study published in Behavioural Brain Research found adult mice born to mothers fed on a diet rich in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation were more likely to experience social hardship, which is observed in individuals suffering autism.

K.L. Jones from University of Missouri in Columbia, MO and colleagues set out to conduct the study hoping to establish an association between dietary intake of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids during gestation and lactation and increased risk of stress in their adult offspring.

Prenatal stress has been found in previous studies associated with increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorder in the offspring. The researchers wanted to know how eating a diet rich in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids during gestation and lactation would affect the risk of experiencing stress/anxiety.

In the study, pregnant mice were fed a control diet or a diet rich in omega-6 fatty acids and they were also exposed to various stress chronically. Then adult offspring mice were tested for sociability, anxiety and locomotor behaviors.

The researchers did find a positive association between dietary intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids during gestation and lactation and some negative outcomes in sociability which is observed commonly in individuals with autism. 

The omega-6 fat was also associated with increased risk of anxiety in the elevated plus maze, a test designed to evaluate the degree of anxiety.

However, prenatal stress did not seem to have an effect on offspring behavior, according to the study report.

The researchers concluded "These findings provide evidence for a possible environmental risk factor that contributes to the production of autistic-like behavior in mice."

Too much intake of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids means too little intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Nutritionists know that there should be a balanced ratio of omega -6 to omega 3, which some nutritionists believe is 4 to 1.

High intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as DHA and EPA found in fish oil has been found capable of fighting inflammation and other chronic diseases and disorders.