Fatty Acids in Umbilical Cord Blood May Contribute to Autism Spectrum Disorder: Study
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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects how people learn and interact socially. While awareness of ASD has grown, many aspects of the disorder are still not fully understood.
The exact causes of ASD are not known, but neuroinflammation is believed to play a major role. Research in mice suggested that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their byproducts during pregnancy might influence the development of ASD. These PUFAs are controlled by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system and can affect fetal development, leading to symptoms similar to ASD. However, it is not yet clear if these findings apply to humans, and more research is needed.
To learn more, a research team from the University of Fukui looked at the levels of CYP-PUFA in umbilical cord blood samples from newborns. The study, published in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, aimed to uncover more about the possible causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The researchers hypothesized that changes in certain fatty acids during pregnancy, like lower levels of EpFA, higher levels of diols, and more enzymes that process EpFA, might affect autism symptoms and daily functioning in children.
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