Impaired plasma phospholipids and relative amounts of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids in autistic patients from Saudi Arabia

Lipids in Health and Disease

Layla Y Al- Ayadhi¹  Abir G Ben Bacha²  Afaf K El-Ansary³ 

[1] Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University, P O Box 2925 Riyadh 11461 Saudi Arabia;Shaik AL-Amodi Autism Research Chair, King Saud University, P O Box 2925 Riyadh 11461 Saudi Arabia;Medicinal Chemistry Department, National Research Centre, P O Box 12622, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt

关键词: oxidative stress;    Phospholipids;    Essential fatty acids;    Polyunsaturated fatty acids;    Autism;   

Others  :  1212676
DOI  :  10.1186/1476-511X-10-63

 received in 2011-03-03, accepted in 2011-04-22,  发布年份 2011

【 摘 要 】

Backgrounds

Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by social and emotional deficits, language impairments and stereotyped behaviors that manifest in early postnatal life. This study aims to compare the relative concentrations of essential fatty acids (Linoleic and α- linolenic), their long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and phospholipids in plasma of autistic patients from Saudi Arabia with age-matching controls.

Methods

25 autistic children aged 3-15 years and 16 healthy children as control group were included in this study. Relative concentration of essential fatty acids/long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid series together with phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine were measured in plasma of both groups.

Results

Remarkable alteration of essential fatty acids/long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, omeg-3/omega-6 and significant lower levels of phospholipids were reported. Reciever Operating characteristics (ROC) analysis of the measured parameters revealed a satisfactory level of sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusion

Essential fatty acids/long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and omeg-3/omega-6 ratios, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine could be used as potential biomarkers that point to specific mechanisms in the development of autism and may help tailor treatment or prevention strategies.

【 授权许可】

   
2011 El-Ansary et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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