Efeitos cognitivos e neuropsicológicos da suplementação de Ômega-3, Vitamina D e Vitamina A em crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista

Abstract

In recent years, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has become widely recognized, being associated with social deficits and repetitive behaviors. Supplements such as omega-3, vitamins D, and A have shown potential in managing symptoms and improving neuropsychological development due to their roles in inflammatory modulation and neuronal function. Studies suggest a relationship between deficiencies of these vitamins and symptom aggravation, highlighting the need for specific dietary therapies. Objective: To investigate the cognitive and neuropsychological effects of omega-3, vitamin D, and vitamin A supplementation in children with ASD. Methodology: A narrative literature review was conducted based on articles published between March 2014 and March 2024, indexed in electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and the Virtual Health Library of the Ministry of Health. The search used descriptors such as “Kid,” “Kids,” “Pediatric,” “Neuropsychology tests,” “Cognition,” “Behavior,” “Omega-3,” “Vitamin D,” “Vitamin A,” “Calcitriol,” “ASD,” and “Autism,” applying the boolean operators AND and OR in the search strategy. The selected articles were descriptively analyzed regarding the cognitive and neuropsychological effects of the nutrients, as well as their impact on ASD symptoms and coexisting conditions. Results were synthesized into tables highlighting patterns and trends. Results: Three studies exclusively investigated omega-3, indicating modest effects in reducing hyperactivity and potential anti-inflammatory properties, though evidence was limited. Two studies addressed vitamin D, suggesting improvements in stereotypical behaviors, while vitamin A was only mentioned in relation to its deficiency, without specific clinical trials. The findings highlight modest benefits of omega-3 and vitamin D for specific ASD symptoms. Conclusion: Although omega-3 and vitamin D supplementation may provide modest benefits for certain ASD symptoms, the available data are insufficient to recommend their widespread and uniform adoption. To reach a definitive conclusion on the impact of these nutrients on ASD, more robust studies are needed, involving a larger number of children with autism and using each nutrient individually as supplementation. These supplements may be considered as complementary to behavioral therapies in the treatment of ASD