The utility of omega-3 fatty acids in epilepsy: more than just a farmed tilapia!

Maternal consumption of nut oil (Bertholletia excelsa): Evidence of anxiolytic-like behavior and reduction in brain lipid peroxidation on the progeny of rats

INTRODUCTION

Maternal nutrition plays a crucial role in the development of offspring, influencing both biochemical and behavioral parameters. Brazil nut oil, rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidant bioactive compounds, may provide metabolic, neuroprotective, and anxiolytic benefits to the offspring when offered during the critical period of development.

OBJECTIVE

Investigate the impact of maternal consumption of crude or refined Brazil nut oil during pregnancy and lactation on anxiety-like behavior and brain lipid peroxidation in rat offspring.

METHODOLOGY

Each group were compound by male (M) and female (F) puppies. The groups formed were: Controls (CG-M and CG-F) -treated with distilled water; Crude oil (CO-M and CO-F) receiving 3000 mg/kg of body weight of Brazil nut crude oil, and Refined oil (RO-M and RO-F) - treated with 3000 mg/kg of body weight of refined Brazil oil. The dams were treated during pregnancy and lactation. Anxiety-like behavior was observed in the offspring during adolescence using: elevated plus maze (EPM), open field (OF) and light-dark box (LDB). Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in the pups' brain tissue.

RESULTS

RO-M/RO-F entered and spent more into the open arms and realized more head dipping CO-M/CO-F and CO-F/RO-F presented increased locomotion and less grooming in the OF; RO-M and RO-F realized more rearing compared to controls groups and CO-M and CO-F compared to all groups. All groups treated with crude and refinated oil spent more time in the light area and realized more transitions in the LDB. Cerebral MDA were decreased in all experimental groups compared to controls groups.

CONCLUSION

Maternal comsuption of Brazil nut oil induced anxiolitic-like behavior and reduced brain lipid peroxidation of the male and female offspring in rats.

A review of traditional and novel treatments for seizures in autism spectrum disorder: findings from a systematic review and expert panel

Despite the fact that seizures are commonly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the effectiveness of treatments for seizures has not been well studied in individuals with ASD. This manuscript reviews both traditional and novel treatments for seizures associated with ASD. Studies were selected by systematically searching major electronic databases and by a panel of experts that treat ASD individuals. Only a few anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have undergone carefully controlled trials in ASD, but these trials examined outcomes other than seizures. Several lines of evidence point to valproate, lamotrigine, and levetiracetam as the most effective and tolerable AEDs for individuals with ASD. Limited evidence supports the use of traditional non-AED treatments, such as the ketogenic and modified Atkins diet, multiple subpial transections, immunomodulation, and neurofeedback treatments. Although specific treatments may be more appropriate for specific genetic and metabolic syndromes associated with ASD and seizures, there are few studies which have documented the effectiveness of treatments for seizures for specific syndromes. Limited evidence supports l-carnitine, multivitamins, and N-acetyl-l-cysteine in mitochondrial disease and dysfunction, folinic acid in cerebral folate abnormalities and early treatment with vigabatrin in tuberous sclerosis complex. Finally, there is limited evidence for a number of novel treatments, particularly magnesium with pyridoxine, omega-3 fatty acids, the gluten-free casein-free diet, and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic simulation. Zinc and l-carnosine are potential novel treatments supported by basic research but not clinical studies. This review demonstrates the wide variety of treatments used to treat seizures in individuals with ASD as well as the striking lack of clinical trials performed to support the use of these treatments. Additional studies concerning these treatments for controlling seizures in individuals with ASD are warranted.