Lovaza, the fish oil supplement contains essential fatty acids, or EFA’s, which are critical to the health of the brain. Does this mean that Lovaza can help those with autism?
Lovaza and Autism Broken Down
Essential fatty acids are critical for brain development and overall health. Children who suffer from some conditions, such as autism or related disorders, may see improvement in their neurological health by receiving these essential oils from fish oil, though there are still many studies conducted to verify or dispute this fact. It is known that children who have autism have been shown to have significantly lower levels of essential fatty acids in their red blood cells.
Lovaza works to provide those missing essential fatty acids to the body, which may in turn improve some autism symptoms. Unfortunately, the prescription strength level of Lovaza is not recommended for use on those under the age of 18. Those who have autism symptoms and an official diagnosis of the condition over this age may wish to talk to their doctor about the potential help that Lovaza can offer.
More About Lovaza
Those considering the correlation between Lovaza and autism need to know more about this particular medication. Lovaza is not for everyone.
- Lovaza is the very first prescription omega 3 product, and currently, it is the only prescription omega 3 product available.
- The manufacturers of Lovaza have a five-step process they use to create the product. This helps to purify the omega 3 product prior to distributing it for use.
- Lovaza is FDA approved. It has approval as a treatment option for those with very high triglycerides levels. It does not have specific approval for use in autism patients without this condition.
Triglycerides are a type of fat that is a natural product of the body. It is in the bloodstream of healthy people. Some people have triglyceride levels that are too high. That is where Lovaza comes in, as a treatment to lower these levels. Specifically, doctors use Lovaza to treat individuals with triglyceride levels over 500mg/dL.
What You Can Do
Lovaza and autism may or may not go hand in hand, depending on who is receiving treatment and their unique health situation. If your doctor has said that your triglycerides levels are very high, and you have autism, talk to your doctor about the use of Lovaza to treat the condition. In some cases, doctors may use this product on patients with autism, yet it should not be considered a cure for autism spectrum disorder. Those who suffer from the following conditions should not take Lovaza:
- Hyperthyroidism
- Diabetes
- Alcoholism
- Medicinal induced high triglyceride levels
- Obesity
- Fish allergy patients
- Pregnant patients
- Nursing mothers
Since Lovaza is an all-natural product made from fish oil, it is possible to have a reaction from it if you have an allergy to fish or fish products. Some individuals may have other reactions as well, even without an allergy. Doctors should monitor the use of Lovaza over a period of two months to determine if it is helpful. If no improvement occurs after that time, it should no longer be in use.There are side effects from the use of Lovaza including:
- Infection
- Flu like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sweats, aches and pains and fever
- Dyspepsia
- Rash
- Back pain, specifically in the longer back
- Heart palpitations
- Taste perversions
- Increased LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol)
The use of Lovaza for the treatment of autism is currently not widely practiced and is not something that should occur without doctor consent. Further studies are necessary to determine if this high dosage of fish oil and essential fatty acids may in fact help to improve brain function in those who suffer from autism or similar conditions. Right now, it is unlikely that doctors will recommend the use of Lovaza in children with autism.
