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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 May;49(5):1778-1794.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3860-y.

A Randomised-Controlled Trial of Vitamin D and Omega-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Core Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children

Hajar Mazahery  1 , Cathryn A Conlon  1 , Kathryn L Beck  1 , Owen Mugridge  1 , Marlena C Kruger  1 , Welma Stonehouse  2 , Carlos A Camargo Jr  3 , Barbara J Meyer  4 , Bobby Tsang  5 , Beatrix Jones  5 , Pamela R von Hurst  6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A Randomised-Controlled Trial of Vitamin D and Omega-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Core Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children

Hajar Mazahery et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 May.

Abstract

We evaluated the efficacy of vitamin D (VID), omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 LCPUFA, OM), or both (VIDOM) on core symptoms of ASD. New Zealand children with ASD (n = 73; aged 2.5-8.0 years) received daily 2000 IU vitamin D3, 722 mg docosahexaenoic acid, both, or placebo. Outcome measures were Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and Sensory Processing Measure (SPM). Of 42 outcome measures comparisons (interventions vs. placebo), two showed greater improvements (P = 0.03, OM and VIDOM for SRS-social awareness) and four showed trends for greater improvements (P < 0.1, VIDOM for SRS-social communicative functioning, OM for SRS-total, VIDOM for SPM-taste/smell and OM for SPM-balance/motion). Omega-3 LCPUFA with and without vitamin D may improve some core symptoms of ASD but no definitive conclusions can be made.

Keywords: Autism; Children; Core symptoms; Intervention; Omega-3; Supplement; Vitamin D.

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