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Regarding Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Severe Autism: Reply to Bent and Co-workers
Archives of Medical Research 40 (2009) 65
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Regarding Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Severe Autism: Reply to Bent and Co-workers We thank Dr. Bent and co-workers for their cogent comments on our paper regarding the behavioral effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation against problematic behaviors in adults with severe autism. To address Dr Bent’s concerns, we have performed additional analysis of severity scores between the pre- and post-treatment periods according to their suggestions. Notably, pre-treatment mean severity score (18.73, standard deviation 13.06) did not differ significantly from symptom scores in the post-treatment period (14.46, standard deviation 7.55, V 5 184, p value 5 0.07). Although there was a clear trend towards lesser symptom severity in the post-treatment period, the mechanisms whereby this phenomenon occurred cannot be directly inferred from our study. Bent and colleagues speculate that this could be ascribed to delayed beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, but this phenomenon has been chiefly reported in experimental animal studies and not in clinical populations. Moreover, the eventual latency period for achieving such beneficial effects in humans has not been clearly established. Another possible explanation for the decrease in symptom severity in the post-treatment period is indeed the spontaneous fluctuations
in symptom severity and symptom variability over time. Altogether, we believe that our data do not provide major support for the value of PUFA intake on the autistic behavior in young adults with severe autism. Given the controversial role played by omega-3 fatty acid as a nutritional therapy in autism, further randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials need to be done to determine the real efficacy of omega-3 supplements in autism.
0188-4409/09 $esee front matter. Copyright Ó 2009 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2008.10.013
PIERLUIGI POLITI GAETANO MARRONE and ENZO EMANUELE Department of Health Applied Sciences Section of Psychiatry University of Pavia Pavia, Italy Address reprint requests to: Pierluigi Politi, M.D., Ph.D., University of Pavia, Department of Health Applied Sciences Via Bassi 21 Pavia, Italy Phone: þ39 0382 987878 E-mail: [email protected]
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Regarding Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Severe Autism: Reply to Bent and Co-workers We thank Dr. Bent and co-workers for their cogent comments on our paper regarding the behavioral effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation against problematic behaviors in adults with severe autism. To address Dr Bent’s concerns, we have performed additional analysis of severity scores between the pre- and post-treatment periods according to their suggestions. Notably, pre-treatment mean severity score (18.73, standard deviation 13.06) did not differ significantly from symptom scores in the post-treatment period (14.46, standard deviation 7.55, V 5 184, p value 5 0.07). Although there was a clear trend towards lesser symptom severity in the post-treatment period, the mechanisms whereby this phenomenon occurred cannot be directly inferred from our study. Bent and colleagues speculate that this could be ascribed to delayed beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, but this phenomenon has been chiefly reported in experimental animal studies and not in clinical populations. Moreover, the eventual latency period for achieving such beneficial effects in humans has not been clearly established. Another possible explanation for the decrease in symptom severity in the post-treatment period is indeed the spontaneous fluctuations
in symptom severity and symptom variability over time. Altogether, we believe that our data do not provide major support for the value of PUFA intake on the autistic behavior in young adults with severe autism. Given the controversial role played by omega-3 fatty acid as a nutritional therapy in autism, further randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials need to be done to determine the real efficacy of omega-3 supplements in autism.
0188-4409/09 $esee front matter. Copyright Ó 2009 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2008.10.013
PIERLUIGI POLITI GAETANO MARRONE and ENZO EMANUELE Department of Health Applied Sciences Section of Psychiatry University of Pavia Pavia, Italy Address reprint requests to: Pierluigi Politi, M.D., Ph.D., University of Pavia, Department of Health Applied Sciences Via Bassi 21 Pavia, Italy Phone: þ39 0382 987878 E-mail: [email protected]