With all the attention given to the health benefits of fish oils and omega-3s, you may be asking if you can use fish oils for autism. Well it turns out that scientists now believe there may be a link between the omega-3's found in fish oils and the level of risk for developing autistic behaviour.

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Autism is a disorder with many different symptoms. The University of Chicago Children's Hospital defines autism as:

"A brain disorder that begins in early childhood and persists throughout adulthood; affects three crucial areas of development: communication, social interaction, and creative or imaginative play."

Omega 3 fatty acids play a key role in the healthy developement of our children's neurological development. The omega 3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is the most abundant fatty acid in our brains and retinas. It profoundly affects our neurological and visual development.

• Scientists now believe that low levels of DHA are linked to slower brain activity and Alzheimer's disease. In fact, some studies show that a small minority of severly depressed patients have chronically low levels of DHA.

• Research shows DHA is passed to our babies during breast feeding. This omega 3 is particularly important for developing a healthy immune system and enhancing cognitive function in infants. Doctors believe this is one of the most critical periods for a baby to develop a strong and healthy body.

Also, researchers at the Child Evaluation and Treatment Program in North Dakota discovered a higher proportion of autistic children were breast fed at fewer frequencies and shorter duration than non-autistic children.

Are Low Omega-3 Levels Linked to Autism?

While this isn't a definitive cause for autism, there is research showing a possible connection between low omega 3 levels and a risk for autistic-type behaviour. For instance:

• Scientists in Belgium found some autistic children have lower levels of omega 3 fatty acids than non-autistic children.
• Animal studies at the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portand found monkeys displaying autistic-type behaviour were deficient in omega-3's.
• When doctors compare the omega-3 blood levels between autistic children and mentally handicapped children, they found autistic children had lower total omega 3 and DHA levels than mentally handicapped children.

Researchers at Purdue University throw more support behind the omega-3 and autism link:

They compared behaviour, learning and health problems of young boys with low and normal omega-3 levels. The boys with low omega 3 levels displayed more behavioral problems, temper tantrums, and learning difficulties than boys with normal omega-3 levels.

Another study using fish oils on autism showed promising results:

Children diagnosed with either autism or Asperger's Syndrome were given a daily supplement of fish oil/borage oil for 90 days. At the end of 90 days, the children on fish oil supplements showed significant improvements in their language and learning abilities.

So could there a connection between what a child eats and the prevalence of autistic-type behaviour? There could be....

Researchers at the University of Western Ontario recently confirmed a 'gut-brain connection' to autism. They discovered the digestive system produces compounds linked to autistic behaviour, supporting the theory that what children eat can alter their brain function.

Parents of autistic children may have already done the research for these scientists. The website Autism-Awareness.Org has an interesting forum on autism where people share their ideas with others. There have been a few postings by parents that have had some success with fish oils and omega 3 supplements.

While the evidence is encouraging, it would be nice to see more research on fish oils and autism. We all know children are unique in their own way. Autism's wide range of symptoms poses a unique challenge to parents and caregivers.

However, there's no question our diets are lacking omega 3 fatty acids. Over the last 20th century, scientists have found an inverse relation between Western society's reduced consumption of fish and omega 3's, and a corresponding increase in autism rates. The current research on omega 3s seems to suggest a possible link between these healthy fats and neurological health.

So can we use fish oils on autism? Well, the research shows there are many documented health benefits from fish oils. These healthy oils provide an excellent source of much-needed omega 3 fatty acids - EPA and DHA.

Concerns about mercury in fish oils can be avoided if you use a pharmaceutical grade fish oil - and studies show it's very safe to use these high concentration fish oils on kids.

I started giving my son, Jeremy, lemon-flavored fish oils a couple years ago. He doesn't have autism, but he did tell me he found it easier to concentrate during school. He likes them so much, he dyed his hair the same color as the bottle....Kids these days!

Optimizing our children's nutrition will help them cope with growing up in a changing world. Hopefully there will be more research on fish oils and autism so we can get some answers to solving this challenging condition.

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Fish oils help my son with autism 
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