By David LIu, PHD

Monday Sept 3, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking supplements of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) helps children with autism spectrum disorders, according to a study recently published in Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology.

The study led by Yui, Kunio MD, PhD of Jichi Medical School in Minamikawachi, Tochigi, Japan and colleagues showed children with autism spectrum disorder using polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements for 16 weeks significantly improved their conditions.

Autism spectrum disorders are known as a neurodevelopmental disorder with reduced cortical functional connectivity associated with social cognition while polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are known to possibly have a key role in brain network maturation. With such knowledge, the researchers conducted the study in hopes that they may find an association between supplementation of larger arachidonic acid doses added to DHA and mitigated social impairment.

For the 16-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 13 children with autism spectrum disorders at a mean age of 14.6 years were given either the fatty acids supplements or placebo.  Plasma levels of antioxidants transferrin and superoxide dismutase, markers of signal transduction, were measured and the effect of supplementation was evaluated using the Social Responsiveness Scale and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist–Community.

The study showed supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation regimen significantly improved Aberrant Behavior Checklist–Community–measured social withdrawal and Social Responsiveness Scale–measured communication in the children with autism spectrum who received the supplement.

Additionally, more autistic children in the treatment group experienced efficacy of supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, compared to the control group, 0.87 versus 0.44 for communication.  For social withdrawal, the treatment effect size was 0.88, compared to 0.54 in the control group.

A significant difference in the plasma transferrin level and a trend toward a significant difference in the plasma superoxide dismutase level were also found between the two groups of children with autism spectrum disorders.

The researchers concluded "This preliminary study suggests that supplementation with larger ARA doses added to DHA improves impaired social interaction in individuals with autism spectrum disorder by up-regulating signal transduction."