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Impact of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on clinical manifestations in autism spectrum disorders: an umbrella review of meta-analyses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2024

Hamid Abbasi ,
Abdolrahman Parhiz ,
Sara Khoshdooz ,
Farnush Bakhshimoghaddam ,
Saeid Doaei Open the ORCID record for Saeid Doaei [Opens in a new window]  and
Maryam Gholamalizadeh
Hamid Abbasi
Affiliation:
Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Abdolrahman Parhiz
Affiliation:
PhD Student of Educational Measurement and Evaluation, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Sara Khoshdooz
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Science, Rasht, Iran
Farnush Bakhshimoghaddam
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Saeid Doaei*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Al-Zahra Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
Maryam Gholamalizadeh
Affiliation:
Cancer research center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*
Corresponding author: Saeid Doaei; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition. Omega-3 fatty acid insufficiency has been linked to ASD. This umbrella meta-analysis was performed to investigate the effects of omega-3 supplementation on clinical manifestations in participants with ASD. Based on the PRISMA statement, databases including Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus were systematically searched for published meta-analyses on the effect of omega-3 supplementation on ASD up to December 2023. To assess the risk of bias, the assessment of multiple systematic reviews (AMSTAR)-2 was utilised. The outcomes were core and non-core symptoms of ASD including social withdrawal/lethargy, cluttering speech, hyperactivity, irritability and stereotypy. Seven meta-analyses eventually remained in the umbrella review. The results revealed that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation caused a significant reduction in cluttering speech in studies conducted on age ≤8 years (effect size (ES) −0·30; 95% confidence interval (CI) −0·55, −0·06; P = 0·02). Omega-3 supplementation caused a significant reduction in hyperactivity in participants ≤8 years (ES −0·30; 95% CI −0·55, −0·06; P = 0·02) and in participants who received the supplements for more than 14 weeks (ES −0·30; 95% CI −0·55, −0·06; P = 0·02). A dosage of ≤1000 mg/d of omega-3 supplementation led to a significant increase in the stereotypy/restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours (ES 0·19; 95% CI 0·03, 0·35; P = 0·02). This umbrella review revealed that omega-3 fatty acid may be a beneficial supplement to control cluttering speech and hyperactivity in children with ASD who are 8 years old or younger.

Keywords

autism spectrum disordercluttering speechhyperactivityirritabilityomega 3stereotypyumbrella meta-analysis
Type
Review Article
Information
Nutrition Research Reviews , First View , pp. 1 - 12
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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