In children with autism, inflammation is prevalent. Fish oils can aid beneficial reactions towards reducing brain inflammation, impacting our neurotransmitters, concentration, mood, sleep, and irritability. These necessary fatty acids accomplish this by creating and maintaining strong cell membranes.
Because inflammation has been documented in the gastrointestinal tract in children with ASD(8), omega-3 supplements have been proposed to decrease the effects of inflammatory pathways in the gut and reduce irritability and pain-related behavior.
Do omega-3s have a role in autism? 28% of children with autism use fish oil supplements. Many studies report positive outcomes for the use of omega-3 fatty acids in autism. Autistic children supplemented with fish oils were found to have reduced hyperactive behaviour.
These results indicate that supplementation of omega 3 + 6 fatty acids may help overall social and communicative development (i.e., representational gestures) but not language in particular.
Omega-3s support brain growth and brain function
DHA is necessary for the development of the sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and motor neural (nerve) systems during the brain growth spurt.
This study involved 437 people and indicated that after 24 weeks of taking the supplement, some kinds of memory recall and learning were improved. This could suggest that taking omega-3 supplements early on in dementia development may improve symptoms, but that in the later stages omega-3 has no effect.
It can take up to one month for optimal levels of EPA and DHA to be reached in your blood, but in the brain and heart it can take up to 3 months, until the fatty acids saturate more in those areas.
Supplements are most beneficial in children with documented deficiencies, however, Coleman finds that omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, certain probiotics, prebiotics, and activated folate tend to be safe and generally beneficial for some autistic children.
Vitamin B6 has been well-studied as a possible therapy after the Autism Research Institute in the US found that many parents saw improvements in their children with high Vitamin B6 doses [16].
How Quickly Will I See Benefits After Taking Fish Oil or Omega-3 Supplements for ADHD? If you up your omega-3 intake (either via supplement or diet), don't expect to see an improvement in symptoms overnight, Arnold says. Give it up to about three months, he says.
Some evidence indicates that magnesium could also be involved in neurological diseases such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism. However, no direct study has been published to confirm this assumption.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid found in oily fish, may offset the effects of maternal malnutrition or stress, both of which can alter gene expression and contribute to autism odds, according to a mouse study. Other fats may not have the same protective effects.
These studies showed that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids may improve hyperactivity, lethargy, and stereotypy (movements such as body rocking), which are common in children with autism.
Studies show that adding PS to omega-3s improves ADHD symptoms, but it can work by itself. Children who took PS alone had better attention, less impulsivity and restlessness, and better short-term memory. My recommendation is 200 to 300 mg.
Led by John Protzko from New York University (NYU), USA, the research team found that fish oil consumption, along with enrolling childrenin a quality preschool, and engaging them in interactive reading, are all effective at increasing IQ measures.
Evaluating omega-3 intake from questionnaires, researchers found that mothers consuming more omega-3 in the second half of pregnancy were 40% less likely to have children with ASD. In the third-trimester, however, researchers did not observe any statistical significance in relation to the risk of ASD.
Magnesium
Clinical symptoms of magnesium deficiency in children include irritability, anxiety, and agitation. Magnesium supplementation can reduce anxiety and irritability through its calming effect, which can be instrumental in helping ADHD children complete their daily tasks.
Cerebral Folate Deficiency (CFD)
In other words, the brain doesn't have enough folate to function properly. Symptoms of CFD include developmental delays, speech difficulties, sleep issues, irritability, and more.
Vitamin B12 (Specifically MethylB12)
Methylation is important for cognition, mood and sleep regulation, and speech development. A methylated form of vitamin B12 can help improve all of these issues.
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While the benefits of fish oil are well-documented, recent studies have suggested that it may also support individuals with autism. While more research is needed in this area, it's clear that omega-3 fatty acids are essential for optimal brain health.
A diet focused on whole, unprocessed, nutrient-dense foods is a must when it comes to autism natural treatment. Ayurvedic Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and homeopathy can offer unique yet helpful perspectives on autism and various autism natural treatment options.
In particular, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid, is important for brain and eye development. Additionally, DHA plays a significant role in mental health throughout early childhood and even into adulthood.