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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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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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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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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