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Association of maternal fish consumption and ω-3 supplement use during pregnancy with child autism-related outcomes: results from a cohort consortium analysis
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Association of maternal fish consumption and ω-3 supplement use during pregnancy with child autism-related outcomes: results from a cohort consortium analysis

Kristen Lyall, Matt Westlake, Rashelle Musci, Kennedy Gachigi, Emily Barrett, Theresa Bastain, Nicole Bush, Claudia Buss, Carlos Camargo, Lisa Croen, …
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, v 120(3), pp 583-592
02 Sep 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.06.013
PMID: 38960320
Featured in Collection :   Research Supported by Drexel Libraries' OA Programs
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.06.013View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Open Access via Drexel Libraries Read and Publish Program 2024CC BY V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Adult Animals Autism Spectrum Disorder Autistic Disorder Child Cohort Studies Diet Dietary Supplements Fatty Acids Female fish Fishes Humans Male Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena Omega-3 Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects Preschool quantitative traits Seafood ω-3 supplement Autism Pregnancy
BACKGROUND: Prenatal fish intake is a key source of omega-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids needed for brain development, yet intake is generally low, and studies addressing associations with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related traits are lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine associations of prenatal fish intake and ω-3 supplement use with both autism diagnosis and broader autism-related traits. METHODS: Participants were drawn from 32 cohorts in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Cohort Consortium. Children were born between 1999 and 2019 and part of ongoing follow-up with data available for analysis by August 2022. Exposures included self-reported maternal fish intake and ω-3/fish oil supplement use during pregnancy. Outcome measures included parent report of clinician-diagnosed ASD and parent-reported autism-related traits measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS)-second edition (n = 3939 and v3609 for fish intake analyses, respectively; n = 4537 and n = 3925 for supplement intake analyses, respectively). RESULTS: In adjusted regression models, relative to no fish intake, fish intake during pregnancy was associated with reduced odds of autism diagnosis (odds ratio: 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.77, 0.92), and a modest reduction in raw total SRS scores (β: -1.69; 95% CI: -3.3, -0.08). Estimates were similar across categories of fish consumption from any or less than once per week to more than twice per week. For ω-3 supplement use, relative to no use, no significant associations with autism diagnosis were identified, whereas a modest relation with SRS score was suggested (β: 1.98; 95% CI: 0.33, 3.64). CONCLUSIONS: These results extend previous work by suggesting that prenatal fish intake, but not ω-3 supplement use, may be associated with lower likelihood of both autism diagnosis and related traits. Given the low-fish intake in the United States general population and the rising autism prevalence, these findings suggest the need for better public health messaging regarding guidelines on fish intake for pregnant individuals.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Nutrition & Dietetics
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