Omega-3 PUFAs and vitamin D co-supplementation as a safe-effective therapeutic approach for core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder: case report and literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by abnormal development of cognitive, social, and communicative skills. Although ASD aetiology and pathophysiology are still unclear, various nutritional factors have been investigated as potential risk factors for ASD development, including omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and vitamin D deficiency. In fact, both omega-3 PUFAs and vitamin D are important for brain development and function. Case report: Herein, we report the case of a 23-year-old young adult male with autism who was referred to our Unit due to a 12 months history of cyclic episodes of restlessness, agitation, irritability, oppositional and self-injurious behaviours. Laboratory tests documented a markedly altered omega-6/omega-3 balance, along with a vitamin D deficiency, as assessed by serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Omega-3 and vitamin D co-supplementation was therefore started, with remarkable improvements in ASD symptoms throughout a 24 months follow-up period. A brief review of the literature for interventional studies evaluating the efficacy of omega-3 or vitamin D supplementation for the treatment of ASD-related symptoms is also provided. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first case reporting remarkable beneficial effects on ASD symptoms deriving from omega-3 and vitamin D combination therapy. This case report suggests omega-3 and vitamin D co-supplementation as a potential safe-effective therapeutic strategy to treat core symptoms of ASD. However, larger studies are needed to evaluate the real effectiveness of such therapeutic approach in a broader sample of ASD patients.

The effect of vitamin D supplementation in treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…Two studies were included in the overall interpretation but not included in the meta-analysis due to the use of an assessment tool not used by the others 18,19 . The reasons for excluding the 14 full texts were as follows: 8 did not answer our systematic review question [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] , 1 was retracted by the journal due to incorrect data 28 , 2 were case reports 29,30 and 3 were open-label trials [31][32][33] . The screening and selection of the studies are presented in the PRISMA flowchart shown in Figure 1.…”

The Neurochemistry of Autism

“…Exogenous vitamin D supplementation can have beneficial effects in ASD children and improve signs and symptoms of ASD [145,146], and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends vitamin D supplementation during infancy and childhood [147]. However, a recent randomized placebo-controlled trial underlined that vitamin D supplementation had limited beneficial effects on children with ASD without any effect on the primary outcome [148].…”

A Novel Anti-Inflammatory Role of Omega-3 PUFAs in Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis and Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

“…Moreover, the AA/EPA ratio has been shown to be a reliable surrogate marker of omega-6/omega-3 ratio that may serve as a more specific indicator of the magnitude of cellular inflammation and, in turn, CV risk. An AA/EPA ratio between 1.5 and 3 has been suggested as the optimal range in order to reduce cellular inflammation and achieve beneficial effects in different clinical settings [169,170,171,172,173], although larger mechanistic and prospective studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis in the context of CVD and, specifically, VCID. Also, different measurements of AA/EPA ratio have been used across studies, basing on the levels of erythrocyte fatty acids, phospholipid fatty acids, adipose tissue fatty acids, or serum fatty acids.…”