Fatty Acid Supplementation in Children With ASD

Fatty Acid Supplements Alter Biological Signatures in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

The purpose of this study is to examine how fatty acid supplementation alters biological signatures in children with ASD

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) suffer from both mental and physical symptoms that affect their quality of life and severely disrupt family well-being. Fatty acid supplements are natural products with anti-inflammatory properties often used for treatment of ASD symptoms, but their efficacy remains unproven. The objective of the proposed protocol is to quantify the impact of Omega 3-6 on pre-specified biological signatures. The hypotheses were formulated based on data from the investigators previous studies and other published data which suggest that the inflammatory markers, IL-1β, IL-2, and IFNγ are consistently elevated in children with ASD and decreases in these markers correlate with ASD symptom improvement. The investigators long-term goal is to identify effective treatments for ASD.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 2-6 years old
• ASD diagnosis at Nationwide Children's Hospital within the prior 6 months
• ADOS-2 score in "autism" (severe) range
• English is primary language

Exclusion Criteria:

• Fatty acid supplementation in the past 6 months
• Consumes fatty fish more than 3 times per week
• Still breastfeeding or formula feeding
• Quadriparesis
• Deafness
• Blindness
• Seizure disorder diagnosis
• Autoimmune disorder including Type 1 Diabetes, Fragile X, Rett, Angleman Syndromes, Tuberous Schlerosis
• Feeding problems precluding consumption of the supplement
• Ingredient allergy (canola, fish, or borage seed)
• Planned surgeries scheduled within the time frame of trial participation