Competitive Interaction Between Plasma Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Arachidonic Acid is Related to Down-Regulation of A Signaling Mediator

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may be attributed to altered composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids. We examined the relationships between the plasma ratios of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)/AA, and biomarkers of AA-related signaling mediators, i.e., ceruloplasmin, transferrin and superoxide dismutase, with the behavioral symptoms of 30 individuals with ASD (mean age, 13.0 years old) and 20 age- and gender-matched normal controls (mean age, 13.6 years old). Behavioral symptoms were assessed using the Aberrant Behavior Checklists (ABC). The ASD group had significantly higher plasma DHA/AA and EPA/AA ratios, as well as ABC scores, compared to the control group. The plasma ceruloplasmin levels in the ASD group were significantly reduced compared to those in the control group. Multiple linear regression demonstrated that plasma DHA/AA ratio was a fitting model for distinguishing the ASD group from the control group. These findings suggested that increased plasma DHA/AA ratio may be related to lower plasma levels of ceruloplasmin, which may contribute to the pathophysiology of behavioral symptoms in 30 individuals with ASD.