title: Impaired plasma phospholipids and relative amounts of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids in autistic patients from Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by social and emotional deficits, language impairments and stereotyped behaviors that manifest in early postnatal life. This study aims to compare the relative concentrations of essential fatty acids (Linoleic and α- linolenic), their long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and phospholipids in plasma of autistic patients from Saudi Arabia with age-matching controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  25 autistic children aged 3-15 years and 16 healthy children as control group were included in this study. Relative concentration of essential fatty acids/long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid series together with phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine were measured in plasma of both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Remarkable alteration of essential fatty acids/long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, omeg-3/omega-6 and significant lower levels of phospholipids were reported. Reciever Operating characteristics (ROC) analysis of the measured parameters revealed a satisfactory level of sensitivity and specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Essential fatty acids/long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and omeg-3/omega-6 ratios, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine could be used as potential biomarkers that point to specific mechanisms in the development of autism and may help tailor treatment or prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Science College, King Saud University, PO Box 22452, Zip Code 11495, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. elansary@ksu.edu.sa
authors.forename: Afaf K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: El-Ansary
authors.forename: Abir G Ben
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bacha
authors.forename: Layla Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Al-Ayahdi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000097:blood; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000097:blood; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000097:blood; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D010743:Phospholipids; C483858:phosphatidylethanolamine