Association of maternal fish consumption and ω-3 supplement use during pregnancy with child autism-related outcomes: results from a cohort consortium analysis
Recommended Citation
Lyall K, Westlake M, Musci RJ, Gachigi K, Barrett ES, Bastain TM, Bush NR, Buss C, Camargo CA, Jr., Croen LA, Dabelea D, Dunlop AL, Elliott AJ, Ferrara A, Ghassabian A, Gern JE, Hare ME, Hertz-Picciotto I, Hipwell AE, Hockett CW, Karagas MR, Lugo-Candelas C, O'Connor TG, Schmidt RJ, Stanford JB, Straughen JK, Shuster CL, Wright RO, Wright RJ, Zhao Q, and Oken E. Association of maternal fish consumption and ω-3 supplement use during pregnancy with child autism-related outcomes: results from a cohort consortium analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 2024.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2024
Publication Title
The American journal of clinical nutrition
Abstract
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.
Medical Subject Headings
Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Dietary Supplements; Cohort Studies; Animals; Male; Child; Adult; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Seafood; Fishes; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Child, Preschool; Autistic Disorder; Diet; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
PubMed ID
38960320
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
Volume
120
Issue
3
First Page
583
Last Page
592
