53908
document
Effects of large doses of arachidonic acid added to docosahexaenoic acid on social impairment in individuals with autism spectrum disorders : a double-blind , placebo-controlled , randomized trial . Autism spectrum disorders are a neurodevelopmental disorders with reduced cortical functional connectivity relating to social cognition . Polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic acid ( ARA ) and docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ) may have key role in brain network maturation . In particularly , ARA is important in signal transduction related to neuronal maturation . Supplementation with larger ARA doses added to DHA may therefore mitigate social impairment . In a 16-week , double-blind , randomized , placebo-controlled trial , we evaluated the efficacy of supplementation with large doses of ARA added to DHA ( n = 7 ) or placebo ( n = 6 ) in 13 participants ( mean age , 14.6 [ SD , 5.9 ] years ) . To examine underlying mechanisms underlying the effect of our supplementation regimen , we examined plasma levels of antioxidants transferrin and superoxide dismutase , which are useful markers of signal transduction . The outcome measures were the Social Responsiveness Scale and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community . Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed that our supplementation regimen significantly improved Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community-measured social withdrawal and Social Responsiveness Scale-measured communication . Treatment effect sizes were more favorable for the treatment group compared with the placebo group ( communication : treatment groups , 0.87 vs , placebo , 0.44 ; social withdrawal : treatment groups , 0.88 , vs placebo , 0.54 ) . There was a significant difference in the change in plasma transferrin levels and a trend toward a significant difference in the change in plasma superoxide dismutase levels between the 2 groups . This preliminary study suggests that supplementation with larger ARA doses added to DHA improves impaired social interaction in individuals with autism spectrum disorder by up-regulating signal transduction .
53909
Intervention_Control
placebo-controlled
53910
Intervention_Pharmacological
Polyunsaturated fatty acids arachidonic acid ( ARA )
53911
Intervention_Pharmacological
docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA )
53912
Intervention_Pharmacological
ARA
53913
Intervention_Pharmacological
ARA doses added to DHA
53914
Intervention_Control
placebo-controlled
53915
Intervention_Pharmacological
ARA added to DHA
53916
Intervention_Control
placebo
53917
Intervention_Control
placebo
53918
Intervention_Control
placebo
53919
Intervention_Control
placebo
53920
Intervention_Pharmacological
ARA doses added to DHA
53921
Outcome_Physical
plasma levels of antioxidants transferrin and superoxide dismutase
53922
Outcome_Mental
Social Responsiveness Scale and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community
53923
Outcome_Mental
Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community-measured social withdrawal
53924
Outcome_Mental
Social Responsiveness Scale-measured communication
53925
Outcome_Physical
change in plasma transferrin levels
53926
Outcome_Physical
plasma superoxide dismutase levels
53927
Outcome_Physical
social interaction
53928
Participant_Condition
social impairment in individuals with autism spectrum disorders :
53929
Participant_Condition
ARA added to DHA ( n = 7 ) or placebo ( n = 6 ) in 13 participants ( mean age , 14.6 [ SD , 5.9 ] years ) .
53930
Participant_Condition
individuals with autism spectrum disorder