Maternal polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk for autism spectrum disorder in the MARBLES high-risk study.
Yunru Huang, Ana-Maria Iosif, Robin L Hansen and 1 others
PMID 31958995WHAT IT FOUND
Mothers of children with autism reported lower total omega-3 intake in the second half of pregnancy than mothers of typically developing children.
However, plasma omega-3 levels showed no difference for autism risk, and supplement use was not associated with outcomes.
Key findings
01Maternal dietary total omega-3 intake in the second half of pregnancy was significantly lower in mothers of children with ASD compared to those with typical development.
02Maternal plasma concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids in the third trimester were not significantly associated with the risk of ASD in offspring.
03Omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy was not associated with a reduced risk of ASD or non-typical development.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study population was high-risk (families with a prior child with ASD), so results may not apply to the general population. Dietary data relied on self-reported questionnaires, which can be inaccurate and may underestimate intake. Plasma samples only reflected short-term status in the third trimester, not long-term dietary habits. The sample size was relatively small, limiting the ability to detect smaller effects.
Declared interests
The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Government. No specific commercial conflicts of interest were reported in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not recommend omega-3 supplements to prevent autism based on this study. The only positive finding was an association with self-reported dietary intake, while objective plasma measures and supplement data showed no link to ASD risk.