Role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the management of Egyptian children with autism.
OBJECTIVE
Estimation of free polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in blood and evaluation of behavior of autistic children before and after taking fish oil (Efalex) were performed.


METHODS
30 autistic children (18 males and 12 females) aged 3-11 years and 30 healthy children as control group were included in this study. Tandem mass spectrometry and CARS were used to estimate the free PUFAs from dried blood spot and to evaluate the autistic behavior respectively.


RESULTS
Before taking Efalex, linolenic acid showed a significant reduction (71%), followed by docosahexaenoic acid (65%) and arachidonic acid (45%), while linoleic acid was the least affected PUFA (32%). After taking Efalex, 66% of autistic children showed clinical and biochemical improvement, linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid showed the highest levels after Efalex supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
PUFA supplementation may play an important role in ameliorating the autistic behavior.
Meguid
Nagwa A
NA
Department of Research on Children with Special Needs, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.
Atta
Hazem M
HM
Gouda
Amr S
AS
Khalil
Rehab O
RO
D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000178:diet therapy*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000097:blood
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D010938:Plant Oils; C532150:efalex; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid