Correction of Fatty Acids Metabolism as Treatment Strategy of Autism

Abstract

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder clinically presented as abnormalities in social interaction and communication, repetitive behaviors, usually accompanied by various neurobehavioral disorders, such as learning disability, hyperactivity and anxiety. It is well known that more than 50% of human brain weight is composed of lipids with a remarkably high content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA). Adequate supply of different fatty acids and lipids is critically needed by developing brain to achieve normal growth. Essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are critical for normal prenatal brain development. There has been increasing evidence that impairment of PUFAs metabolic pathway could affect the normal function of nervous system which is related to pathogenesis of autism. Studies have demonstrate that autistic patients may exhibit abnormal PUFAs metabolism, which manifests as varying impaired levels of lipid mediators such as prostaglandins, eicosanoids, and isoprostanes in serum and plasma of autistic patients. Consequently, interventions related to metabolic correction of fatty acids, phospholipids, prostaglandins, eicosanoids, and isoprostanes as fatty acids-derived signaling molecules were discussed in details with special reference to Omega-3 Fatty Acids supplementation and its recognized role in the correction of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, glutamate excitotoxicity as ascertained etiological mechanisms in autism.

Neuroimaging genetics approaches to identify new biomarkers for the early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder

“…Emerging evidence shows altered fatty acid metabolism and homeostasis in ASD [113]. Acetate is a marker of glial metabolism and a metabolic substrate of astrocytes during fatty acid synthesis [114,115].…”

Retinol-binding protein 4 in combination with lipids to predict the regression phenomenon of autism spectrum disorders

“…In general, these results indicate that lipids may be related to the autistic regression phenomenon. Nowadays, researchers have demonstrated that fatty acid correction may serve as a treatment strategy for autism, especially for their core symptoms [19,30,31]. Therefore, it is speculated that correcting lipids may also improve regression in autism.…”

“…Additionally, abnormal fatty acid metabolism and lipid mediators have been reported to be related to the etiological mechanism in autism, and amelioration of impaired lipid metabolism can be recognized as a treatment strategy of autism [19][20][21]. Furthermore, researchers have experimentally shown that lipogenic enzymes, such as fatty acid synthase (FASN) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), are highly expressed in the rodent brain during the early neonatal period and decline thereafter [21,22].…”