Obviously spectrum disorders are extremely complicated and most clinicians agree that there is not one underlying cause.  Instead, it is believed that there are a number of contributing factors ranging from genetics to varying exposure to environmental toxins and even the expression of genetic factors during pregnancy.   Because it is such a complex disorder, any and all therapies need to be taken with a grain of salt.

With that as the disclaimer, I felt it important to share the article below which details the results of a recent study on the subject.  Here is the link to the article as well as the full excerpt below:  http://www.nutraingredients.com/On-your-radar/Omega-3/Omega-3-vitamin-E-mix-shows-potential-for-autistic-speech

“A combination of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E may lead to speech improvements in autistic children with verbal disorders, suggests a new study.

Verbal apraxia is a speech disorder common in autism, and an estimated 50 per cent of children with autism have apraxia. Furthermore, many thousands more are reported to have apraxia but are not autistic.

According to new research published in the journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, daily supplements of omega-3 and vitamin E were associated with improvements in speech, imitation, eye contact, and behavior.

Claudia Morris from the Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland (CHRCO) and Marilyn Agin from the Saint Vincent Medical Center in New York recruited families with experiences of omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin E supplementation. The majority of families used doses of 800 IU of vitamin E, while the average omega-3 consumption was 280 to 840 mg DHA and 695 to 2,085mg EPA.

The ratios and dosages determined through the work with the study led to a patent for Dr Morris through the CHRCO (US patent # 2008/002216). The patented formulation is licensed exclusively to Illinois-based NourishLife from CHRCO.

Kate Bolton, VP of speech nutrients at NourishLife, told NutraIngredients: “The results of the study are significant in that 97 per cent of the participants with apraxia and/or on the autism spectrum reported dramatic improvements while taking a combination of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.

“The study represents the largest summary of children with apraxia to date,” she added.

“Antidotal evidence had previously shown that omega-3 can help children with apraxia and those known as ‘late talkers’. The researchers discovered that they symptoms presented by children with apraxia mirror those of vitamin E deficiency,” said Bolton. “The addition of high dose vitamin E with omega-3 fatty acids is the breakthrough.”

Study details

The researchers recruited 187 children with verbal apraxia who had received vitamin E plus polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation. They noted that verbal apraxia is not only a speech disorder but rather a complex syndrome that affects a person’s neurologic function.

A subgroup of children emerged, characterised by autism, sensory issues, low muscle tone, food allergy, coordination problems, and impaired gastrointestinal function.

The presence of multiple allergies and intestinal problems are associated with nutritional deficiencies including vitamin E, omega-3, and carnitine. Following supplementation, 181 families (97 per cent) reported “dramatic improvements in a number of areas”, said the researchers. These included speech, behaviour, eye contact, and other sensory issues.

“We characterize a novel apraxia phenotype that responds to polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E,” wrote the researchers.

“Appropriate screening may identify a subgroup of children with a previously unrecognized syndrome of allergy, apraxia, and malabsorption who are responsive to nutritional interventions in addition to traditional speech and occupational therapy,” they added.

“Controlled trials in apraxia and autism spectrum disorders are warranted,” concluded Morris and Agin.

Bolton confirmed that work is indeed ongoing in this area, with the a clinical study and protocol designed to continue to understand the impact omega-3 and vitamin E have on autism and verbal apraxia, and to begin to determine the underlying mechanisms in verbal apraxia. However, funding for the study is yet to be secured, she said.

Source: Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine
July/August 2009, Volume 15, Number 4, Pages 34-43
“Syndrome of allergy, apraxia, and malabsorption: Characterisation of a neurodevelopmental phenotype that responds to omega-3 and vitamin E supplementation”
Authors: C.R. Morris, M.C. Agin”

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I think we can agree that we are concerned with the short and long term health of our babies, and we look to infant formula for the nutrition to keep our children healthy.

But what about premature babies?  Especially those who are too small to breast feed normally and must temporarily be fed through a tube (enterally.)  For those children, their health and indeed their lives are in the hands of their trusted doctors and pediatricians.  Luckily, there is a growing body of knowledge around what nutrients best serve the needs of these unique babies.

I came across this study summary this morning and found it very compelling.  The study is around the inclusion of the essential fatty acid omega-3, DHA in the food of premature infants.  Now for many of us with young children, we know that many of the infant formulas are fortified with DHA.  Those of us who keep up on the science may also be aware that DHA supports healthy brain development as well as supports many other areas of general health.    This new study looked at the amount of DHA being consumed in tube fed premature babies and made the conclusion that they may need more.

I have linked to the actual  article in NutraIngredients, that goes into a little more detail.  Add this to the ever growing body of work showing the DHA and baby food may go well together.

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I know that we usually think about DHA and omega-3’s in terms of prenatal health.  However, the body of research on why you should be taking fish oil spills over into every aspect of life.  Here is a link to a study announcement where they looked at peoples intake of omega-6 fatty acids.  These are the saturated fats you get in high fat foods, including fast food, fried foods, and many of your fat sources.  What they found is that if instead of eating a diet that is high in saturarted omega-6 fats, the study patients instead ate a lot of fish and had a good intake of fats from fish and other good omega-3 sources that they had a lower propensity for inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis.

Now it is important to point out that the lead researcher in the study indicated that this data is far too limited to make any sweeping public recommendations with regard to their intake of omega-3 fish oils.   However, as I mentioned previously, there is a growing body of research out there indicating that omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA may support many aspects of overall health.

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Everybody knows that DHA during pregnancy is a great way to support fetal development.  However, few people realize the numerous areas of health where DHA, EPA and other essential fatty acids play a role.  DHA has become popular in the past ten years as the body of research around the omega-3 fatty acid grew.  Originally, EPA and DHA were studies in Eskimos for its role in heart healthy.  Scientists found it fascinating that even though these native people literally lived on a diet of fat, they had very few cardiovascular challenges.  The research in this area led to the determination that the consumption of fish, and more specifically the essential fatty acids in the fish helped support cardiovascular health.  More recently, the science around EPA and DHA has indicated that the body uses these nutrients to support multiple areas of health.  These essential fatty acids are literally incorporated into the walls of your cells and play a central role in health.

DHA During Pregnancy

In addition to the many health benefits of DHA, taking the omega 3 during pregnancy, helps support healthy brain development for the baby.  In fact, it supports healthy brain development and cognition throughout life. The science around DHA is making it more and more popular, and you often see this essential fatty acid in numerous baby formulas, as well as in foundational foods such as fortified milk.

DHA For More Than Pregnancy

On the other end of the spectrum of life, new science is emerging showing that DHA is great to support healthy brain function in adults, and may help the with the memory challenges of aging.  Regardless of your stage in life, whether you are taking it when pregnant, or on a daily basis throughout your life, a good source of daily DHA for either fish or supplementation may do wonders for daily health.

Other Posts:

Nutrients to eat while pregnant

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We all know that omega 3 fish oils are a good source of DHA which supports healthy brain development. It also seems like that essential fatty acids such as EPA and DHA for pregnancy help in all sorts of ways. I cam across this article this morning that reviews a recent study from Linkoping University, I really don’t know where that is, but it sounds exotic. Anyway, the study indicates that taking DHA during pregnancy may help reduce the incidence of skin and food allergy. I have reprinted the article below which basically says that taking omega 3 fish oils while pregnant may have an impact on allergies triggered by the IgE antibodies. IgE is one of the major antibodies that your immune system uses to fight off invader, and is associated with the creation of an allergic response. When you are allergic to something your body views the allergen as an invader. The body releases in response to the invader IgE which tells your immune system to release all of the different molecules that are used to fight off the invasion. Unfortunately, these molecules have the job of making your body as inhospitable as possible for the invader which also makes it uncomfortable for you. Thus you get red, itchy, your nose runs, and you get a rash. Anyway, back to the topic at hand, I have reprinted the article below and the link to the DHA article can be found here.

Fish oil during pregnancy may slash infant allergy
By Stephen Daniells, 09-Jul-2009

Supplements of omega-3 fish oils during pregnancy may reduce the risk of food allergy and eczema in children, according to a new study from Sweden.

The occurrence of eczema and food allergies was 16 and 13 per cent lower, respectively, in infants of mothers receiving the fish oil supplements during pregnancy and the early months of breast-feeding, compared to placebo, according to findings published in the journal Acta Paediatrica.

“This randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study shows that omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy and lactation may reduce the risk of developing allergic sensitization to egg, IgE-associated eczema and food allergy during the first year of life,” wrote the authors, led by Catrin Furuhjelm from Linkoping University.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is the predominant antibody associated with an allergic response.

The new study adds to the ever-growing list of studies supporting the potential health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA. Much of its healthy reputation that is seeping into consumer consciousness is based largely on evidence that it can aid cognitive function and may help protect the heart against cardiovascular disease.

From mother to child

Furuhjelm and her co-workers recruited 145 pregnant women with allergies, or with partners or other children with allergies. Starting at the 25th week of their pregnancy, and continuing for between three and four months of breastfeeding, the women were randomly assigned to receive either daily fish oil supplements providing 1.6 g of EPA and 1.1 g of DHA (Bio Marin capsules from Pharma Nord, Denmark), or placebo.

Using a range of tests, including clinical examination, skin prick tests, and blood tests for IgE, the researchers observed a 2 per cent prevalence of food allergy in the omega-3 group, compared to 15 per cent in the placebo group.

Furthermore, the incidence of IgE-associated eczema was only 8 per cent in the omega-3 group, compared to 24 per cent in the placebo group.

“Our findings suggest that the mechanisms leading to sustained IgE antibody production early in life may be inhibited by the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA,” wrote Furuhjelm.

What’s happening?

Commenting on the mechanism, the Linkoping-based scientists proposed several possibilities. Both DHA and EPA may produce changes in the fluidity of the membranes of immune cells, and reduce the levels of the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA). By inhibiting the metabolism of AA, the formation of the less inflammatory eicosanoids is favoured, which may be linked to lower allergic sensitization in the children, said the researchers.

“Additional anti-inflammatory effects of EPA andDHA in early immune development through bioactive lipids, lipoxins, neuroprotectines and resolvins, have been discussed but it is not clear whether those are plausible explanatory mechanisms regarding our findings,” they said.

Food allergy rises

The number of allergic disease has also been rising, with an estimated eight per cent of children in the EU suffering from food allergies, according to the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations.

The most common food allergen ingredients and their derivatives are cereals containing gluten, fish, crustaceans, egg, peanut, soybeans, milk and dairy products including lactose, nuts, celery, mustard, sesame seed, and sulphites.

Source: Acta Paediatrica
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2009.01355.x
“Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation may decrease the risk of infant allergy”
Authors: C. Furuhjelm, K. Warstedt, J. Larsson, M. Fredriksson, M. Fageras Bottcher, K. Falth-Magnusson, K. Duchen

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There is a lot of benefit to be had with omega-3 fish oils and Vitamin D. That’s why we added them to our Bloom’en Nutrition prenatal vitamin chews. However, these great nutrients aren’t just for pregnancy health. A 20 million dollar study has recently been commissioned to evaluate by the National Institutes of Health to evaluate the impact of Vitamin D and EPA/DHA fish oil supplementation on the risk of developing cancer, stroke and heart disease, as well as memory loss, depression, diabetes, and numerous other conditions.

The study, entitled VITAL, will follow 20,000 older men and women, over a period of years, and will use annual surveys to track patient results. This is a huge study in comparison to many of the other investigations in the dietary supplement industry and should provide exceptional data on how supplementation with EPA and DHA and vitamin D impacts the onset of chronic conditions. Here is the link to the VITAL website

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