title: A pilot randomized controlled trial of omega-3 fatty acids for autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial to determine the feasibility and initial safety and efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids (1.3 g/day) for the treatment of hyperactivity in 27 children ages 3-8 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). After 12 weeks, hyperactivity, as measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, improved 2.7 (± 4.8) points in the omega-3 group compared to 0.3 (± 7.2) points in the placebo group (p = 0.40; effect size = 0.38). Correlations were found between decreases in five fatty acid levels and decreases in hyperactivity, and the treatment was well tolerated. Although this pilot study did not find a statistically significant benefit from omega-3 fatty acids, the small sample size does not rule out small to moderate beneficial effects.
authors.affiliation: Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco VAMC, 111-A1, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA. Stephen.Bent@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bent
authors.forename: Kiah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bertoglio
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ashwood
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bostrom
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hendren
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3