A pilot randomized controlled trial of omega-3 fatty acids for autism spectrum disorder.
Daily fish-oil pills did not cut hyperactivity in autistic preschool and early-grade kids.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Bent et al. (2011) ran a 12-week pilot trial with 27 autistic kids .
Half got 1.3 g of omega-3 oil each day. The other half got plain placebo oil.
Parents and teachers filled out hyperactivity check-ups every four weeks.
What they found
At the end, both groups looked almost the same on hyperactivity scores.
The omega-3 side showed a tiny drop, but the numbers were too small to call a win.
Kids took the oil fine; no one got sick.
How this fits with other research
Höfer et al. (2017) pooled 20 studies and found that up to 95 % of families already give autistic kids some kind of supplement.
Dib et al. (2007) saw the same trend earlier: three out of four parents tried CAM before asking their doctor.
So Stephen’s trial lands right in the middle of real-world use, yet shows the pill parents hope will calm behavior probably won’t move the needle.
Why it matters
You will meet parents who swear by fish oil. This study gives you polite, data-based news: it’s safe, but don’t expect calmer days. Save your energy for plans that work, like behavioral momentum or sleep hygiene, and keep omega-3 off the priority list unless the pediatrician flags a diet gap.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial to determine the feasibility and initial safety and efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids (1.3 g/day) for the treatment of hyperactivity in 27 children ages 3-8 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). After 12 weeks, hyperactivity, as measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, improved 2.7 (± 4.8) points in the omega-3 group compared to 0.3 (± 7.2) points in the placebo group (p = 0.40; effect size = 0.38). Correlations were found between decreases in five fatty acid levels and decreases in hyperactivity, and the treatment was well tolerated. Although this pilot study did not find a statistically significant benefit from omega-3 fatty acids, the small sample size does not rule out small to moderate beneficial effects.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2011 · doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2009.01.007