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The Role Of Omega-3 Supplements On The Symptoms Of Autism In Children: A Narrative Review

Viktor Štrumbelj, Cameelia Leboeuf, Nour Elwakeel, Ruzha Pancheva

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions for which the direct cause is yet to be determined. ASD is characterised by impaired social interaction and social communication, speech and language disorders, rigid or repetitive behaviour with atypical or excessive interests for individual’s age and sociocultural context. There are many proposed treatments for autism and among them is omega-3 fatty acids (OFA), but their efficacy is yet to be proven. Considering the link between OFA and the function and development of the brain, it is reasonable to explore if supplementation could provide improvement of symptoms. The aim of this study is to review the possible role and effect of OFA supplementation on ASD symptoms. We conducted a narrative review, initially examining 145 articles from PubMed and Google Scholar. Out of these, 13 articles were selected for detailed review, without any time restriction. The keywords used were “omega-3,” “autism,” “children,” and “nutrition.” We selected articles that included OFA supplementation, children diagnosed with autism, and the impacts on autism symptoms. Our research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids supplementation could be beneficial in improving the core symptoms in children diagnosed with ASD. However, the data is still non-conclusive and further research is needed to confidently conclude whether OFA supplementation has a place in treatment of ASD.

Keywords

autism spectrum disorders, omega-3 fatty acids, children, nutrition

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14748/bmr.v35.10339

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About The Authors

Viktor Štrumbelj
Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Cameelia Leboeuf
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada

Nour Elwakeel
Faculty of medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

Ruzha Pancheva
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov”, Varna, Bulgaria

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