Written from the studies on PubMed, searched on 2026. nov. 11.. Every number below comes from a study listed under Sources.
What people read
Posts online say that omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) helps with autism.
What has been studied
- 21In people20 randomised trials
- 11In animals
- 0Only in the lab
What the studies found
Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) has been tested in randomised trials in people with autism.
We found 65 published papers on omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and autism. They were published between 2003 and 2026.
21 of them are studies in people (20 randomised trials), 19 are reviews, 11 are studies in animals and 0 are studies only in the lab.
The most important ones are listed under Sources.
What this means for you: A study in people is not proof that it helps you. Do not stop or change your medicines because of it. Ask your doctor before you start taking it.
Sources
- A randomized trial of omega-3 fatty acids plus inositol versus N-acetylcysteine for the treatment of depression and mania in emotionally dysregulated youth age 5-17 with and without autism traits.2026 · J Affect Disord · Randomised trial
- Effects of Omega-3-6-9 fatty acid supplementation on behavior and sleep in preterm toddlers with autism symptomatology: Secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.2022 · Early Hum Dev · Randomised trial
- Docosahexaenoic and Eicosapentaenoic Intervention Modifies Plasma and Erythrocyte Omega-3 Fatty Acid Profiles But Not the Clinical Course of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Control Trial.2022 · Front Nutr · Randomised trial
- Fish oil supplementation may improve attention, working memory and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in adults with autism spectrum disorder: a randomised crossover trial.2022 · Br J Nutr · Randomised trial
- Randomized Controlled Trial of Omega-3 and -6 Fatty Acid Supplementation to Reduce Inflammatory Markers in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.2022 · J Autism Dev Disord · Randomised trial
- The effect of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on social and behavioral disorders of children with autism: a randomized clinical trial.2021 · Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab · Randomised trial
- Inflammation (IL-1β) Modifies the Effect of Vitamin D and Omega-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Core Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder-An Exploratory Pilot Study‡.2020 · Nutrients · Randomised trial
- A randomised controlled trial of vitamin D and omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of irritability and hyperactivity among children with autism spectrum disorder.2019 · J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol · Randomised trial
- A Randomised-Controlled Trial of Vitamin D and Omega-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Core Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children.2019 · J Autism Dev Disord · Study in people
- Omega-3 and -6 fatty acid supplementation and sensory processing in toddlers with ASD symptomology born preterm: A randomized controlled trial.2017 · Early Hum Dev · Study in people
- Does Omega-3 Help After All in Autism Spectrum Disorder? An Update Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.2026 · Nutrients · Review
- Vitamin D and Omega-3 Supplementation for Emotional and Behavioral Dysregulation in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review.2026 · J Clin Med · Review
- Impact of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Cognitive Outcomes in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review.2025 · Cureus · Review
- Impact of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on clinical manifestations in autism spectrum disorders: an umbrella review of meta-analyses.2025 · Nutr Res Rev · Review
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and/or vitamin D in autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review.2023 · Front Psychiatry · Review
- Non-specific effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on autistic spectrum disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis.2022 · Nutr Neurosci · Review
- Beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on leaky gut, inflammation and oxidative stress in propionic acid-induced autism in aged rats.2026 · Acta Pharm · In animals
- High-dose prenatal omega-3 fish oil induces autism-like social deficits and hippocampal glial changes in rat offspring.2026 · Food Chem Toxicol · In animals
- Low-dose combination of ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide and docosahexaenoic acid on neurosteroid and neuroinflammatory dysregulation in autism spectrum disorders.2026 · Neurotherapeutics · In animals
- Docosahexaenoic acid ameliorates autistic-like behaviors by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory response in neonatal maternal separation rats.2025 · Pediatr Discov · In animals
- Fighting Autism with Fatty Acids: Maternal Omega-3 Shields the Developing Brain from VPA-Induced Behavioral and Neurochemical Damage.2025 · Biology (Basel) · In animals
- Independent and combined effects of astaxanthin and omega-3 on behavioral deficits and molecular changes in a prenatal valproic acid model of autism in rats.2024 · Nutr Neurosci · In animals
- Lipid Peroxidation via Regulating the Metabolism of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Arachidonic Acid in Autistic Behavioral Symptoms.2023 · Curr Issues Mol Biol · Other paper
- Lipid Peroxidation of the Docosahexaenoic Acid/Arachidonic Acid Ratio Relating to the Social Behaviors of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Relationship with Ferroptosis.2023 · Int J Mol Sci · Other paper
- Perinatal supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids corrects the aberrant social and cognitive traits observed in a genetic model of autism based on FMR1 deletion in rats.2022 · Nutr Neurosci · Other paper
- Omega-3 supplementation in autism spectrum disorders: A still open question?2016 · J Pediatr Neurosci · Other paper
