脂肪酸治療法 (Fatty acids)

 資料來源: 英國自閉症協會 (The National Autism Society, UK)

• 治療理論:

(Richardson, 2001; Richardson, 2003a; Richardson, 2003b; Richardson and Ross, 2003 Richardson, 2004; Richardson, 2006). 根據西元2006年近期的研究, 發現Ω3和Ω6脂肪酸在腦內的發展和作用, 扮演著關鍵的角色; 研究建議Ω3和Ω6的不平衡或是高度的缺乏會導致行為的異常和學習的困難, 和腦神經運作發展的混亂, 包括自閉症.

目前的結論

• 研究員Amminger在西元2007年爭辯說，他們的研究提供初步證據Ω3脂肪酸也許是對自閉症的一種有效的治療法; 但這項研究的自閉症對象,僅有13個參加者.

• 在西元2008由Politi繼續研究, 沒有發現脂肪酸對自閉症者的行為有任何的重大改善, 研究樣本太小, 僅有19個自閉症參加者.

• 研究員現在進一步研究並擴大研究的自閉症者人數, 以能確認脂肪酸對自閉症的影響.

身體如何吸收脂肪酸?

• Omega 6 存在各種食用油類中, 如玉米油和葵花仔油, 所以一般人不缺omega-6.

• omega-3 不能在平常食物中得到, 因為我們所食用的食品都經過加工處理, 都已含有氫化油 (hydrogenation), 它會阻止身體吸收脂肪酸, 一般omega-3 可從 Flax seed 或 flax seed oil 或 魚油 (fish oil) 中取得 .

References (參考資料)

Amminger, G. P. et al (2007). Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in children with autism: a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study. Biological Psychiatry, 61(4), pp. 551-553 Bell, J. G. et al (2000). Red blood cell fatty acid compositions in a patient with autistic spectrum disorder: a characteristic abnormality in neurodevelopmental disorders? Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 63(1-2), pp. 21-25 Politi, P. et al (2008). Behavioural effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in young adults with severe autism: an open label study. Archives of Medical Research, 39(7), pp. 682-685 Richardson, A. (2001). Fatty acids in dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, and the autistic spectrum. The Nutrition Practitioner, 3(3), pp. 18-24, 66 Richardson, A. J. (2003a). The role of omega 3 fatty acids in behaviour, cognition and mood. Scandinavian Journal of Nutrition, 47(2), pp. 92-98 Richardson, A. (2003b). Fatty acids in dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, and the autistic spectrum. Inverness: Food and Behaviour Research Richardson, A. J. (2004). Clinical trials of fatty acid treatment in ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and the autistic spectrum. Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 70(4), pp. 383-390 Richardson, A. J. (2006). Omega-3 fatty acids in ADHD and related neurodevelopmental disorders. International Review of Psychiatry, 18(2), pp. 155-172 Richardson, A. J. and Montgomery, P. (2005). The Oxford-Durham study: a randomized, controlled trial of dietary supplementation with fatty acids in children with developmental coordination disorder. Pediatrics, 115(5), pp. 1360-1366 Richardson, A. J. and Ross, M. A. (2000). Fatty acid metabolism in neurodevelopmental disorder: a new perspective on associations between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia and the autistic spectrum. Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 63(1-2), pp. 1-9 Richardson, A. and Ross, M. (2003). Physical signs of fatty acid deficiency. Inverness: Food and Behaviour Research Trevarthen, C. et al (1998). Children with autism: diagnosis and interventions to meet their needs. 2nd ed. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 1853025550. Vancassel, S. (2001). Plasma fatty acid levels in autistic children. Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 65(1), pp. 1-7