Maternal dietary fat intake in association with autism spectrum disorders
Kristen Lyall1, Kassandra L Munger, Éilis J O'Reilly
1Harvard School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Building II 3rd Floor, Boston MA 02115, USA. klyall@hsph.harvard.edu
Insights
Maternal intake of polyunsaturated fats like linoleic acid and omega-3 fatty acids may influence autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk. Higher intake of these fats was linked to a reduced risk of ASD in offspring.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition.
- Maternal diet during pregnancy is a potential modifiable factor influencing fetal development.
- The role of specific dietary fats in ASD risk requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal fat intake (linoleic acid, omega-3 fatty acids) before or during pregnancy and the risk of ASD in offspring.
- To determine if specific polyunsaturated fatty acids impact fetal brain development and ASD risk.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study utilizing data from the Nurses' Health Study II.
- Inclusion of 317 mothers with ASD children and 17,728 comparison mothers.
- Dietary intake assessed via validated food frequency questionnaires; statistical analysis using binomial regression.
Main Results:
- Maternal linoleic acid intake showed a significant inverse association with ASD risk (34% reduction in highest vs. lowest quartiles).
- Lowest 5% maternal omega-3 fatty acid intake was associated with increased ASD risk (RR=1.53).
- This omega-3 association was also observed in a subgroup with dietary data during pregnancy (RR=2.42).
Conclusions:
- Variations in maternal polyunsaturated fat intake may influence fetal brain development and ASD risk.
- Specific fatty acids, including linoleic acid and omega-3s, warrant further research regarding their role in ASD etiology.
- Findings suggest potential dietary interventions, but require cautious interpretation due to subgroup size limitations.
Abstract:
Our goal in this study was to determine whether maternal fat intake before or during pregnancy was associated with risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the offspring. Our primary analysis included 317 mothers who reported a child with ASD and 17,728 comparison mothers from the Nurses' Health Study II (index births in 1991-2007). Dietary information was collected prospectively through a validated food frequency questionnaire. Binomial regression was used to estimate crude and adjusted risk ratios. Maternal intake of linoleic acid was significantly inversely associated with ASD risk in offspring, corresponding to a 34% reduction in risk in the highest versus lowest quartiles of intake. Mothers in the lowest 5% of ω-3 fatty acid intake had a significant increase in offspring ASD risk as compared with the remaining distribution (risk ratio = 1.53, 95% confidence interval: 1.00, 2.32); this association was also seen in the subgroup of women (86 cases and 5,798 noncases) for whom dietary information during pregnancy was available (risk ratio = 2.42, 95% confidence interval: 1.19, 4.91). Thus, variations in intake of polyunsaturated fats within the range commonly observed among US women could affect fetal brain development and ASD risk. Because the number of women with diet assessed during pregnancy was small, however, these results should be interpreted cautiously.
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