Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42730828›Full record

ArticleJournal of autism and developmental disorders2026

Inflammatory Cytokines as Biologic Signatures of the Effect of Dietary Supplementation With Omega Fatty Acids on Autism-Related Behaviors and Features Among Young Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Sarah A Keim, Joseph Rausch, Daniel L Coury, Lisa M Robinette, Paige L Taylor, Lin Sun, Kelly A McNally, Lynette K Rogers

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04312932 (Fatty Acid Supplements Alter Biological Signatures and Behavior in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04312932 phase2completednot on this map

Fatty Acid Supplements Alter Biological Signatures and Behavior in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

TypeinterventionalSponsorSarah KeimRan2021 to 2024Enrolled98ConditionsAutism Spectrum DisorderArmsLCPUFA Oil Supplement, Canola Oil Placebo
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Sarah A KeimCenter for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Dr, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA. sarah.keim@nationwidechildrens.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3490-3649
Joseph RauschCenter for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Dr, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.
Daniel L CouryNationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Dr, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.
Lisa M RobinetteCenter for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Dr, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.
Paige L TaylorCenter for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Dr, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.
Lin SunCenter for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Dr, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.
Kelly A McNallyNationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Dr, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.
Lynette K RogersDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 700 Children's Dr, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.

Funding

The Ohio State University Center for clinical and Translational ScienceUL1TR001070 · NCATS · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · PI JACKSON, REBECCA D · 2013 to 2017
$22.6M
Fatty acid supplements alter biological signatures in children with Autism Spectrum DisorderR33AT009632 · NCCIH · RESEARCH INST NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSP · PI KEIM, SARAH, ROGERS, LYNETTE KAY · 2020 to 2022
$1.1M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001070NCATS NIH HHS UL1TR001070NCCIH NIH HHS R33 AT009632NCCIH NIH HHS R33AT009632
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeEvidence for the efficacy of dietary omega fatty acid supplementation as a supportive intervention for autism is mixed. Mechanisms by which supplementation may offer benefit are unclear. Inflammation may contribute to autism-related behaviors and features. This double-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluated inflammatory cytokines as biologic signatures of the effect of daily dietary supplementation with omega-3 and omega-6-rich fish and borage oil ("omega 3-6") versus placebo in children ages 2 - < 7 years recently diagnosed with autism.

methodsChildren were randomized to omega 3-6 or placebo for 90 days. Cytokines were measured in plasma, and autism-related behaviors and features were assessed by caregiver report and direct assessment. Linear mixed models followed intent-to-treat and evaluated the effect of omega 3-6 supplementation on the change in cytokines. Pearson correlation coefficients estimated associations between change in cytokines and change in autism-related behaviors and features. Exploratory analyses examined moderation by sex, age, gastrointestinal symptoms, and overweight.

resultsOf 98 children randomized, 96 were included in this analysis. Omega 3-6 had no overall effect on cytokines or autism-related behaviors and features (e.g., group difference in change for PDDBI autism composite = 0.1, 95% CI= -10.9, 11.1). Changes in cytokines were generally uncorrelated with changes in autism-related behaviors and features. Some sex-specific effects were observed.

conclusionThis study offered little support for inflammation serving as a mechanism for the effect of omega 3-6 fatty acids on autism-related behaviors and features among young children. Suggestive sex-specific effects should be replicated in a larger trial. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04312932 registered March 16, 2020.

Indexed as

AutismBorageCytokinesFatty acidsInflammationOmega-3 fatty acids

Identifiers

PMID42730828

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.