A new study from researchers in Taiwan has found that a mix of three nutrients—zinc, serine, and branched-chain amino acids—may help improve social behavior in mouse models of autism.
The research, led by Tzyy-Nan Huang and Ming-Hui Lin at Academia Sinica, was published in the journal PLOS Biology on December 2nd.
The scientists tested how this nutrient combination affected brain function and social behavior in three different types of mice bred to show signs of autism.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how the brain forms connections and how people interact with others. Earlier studies have suggested that nutrition can also play a role in brain health, especially in autism.
Zinc, serine, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are all known to support the brain in different ways. The researchers wondered if giving these three together, in low doses, would work better than giving them one at a time. They tested this by looking at brain activity, proteins in brain cells, and how the mice behaved socially.
The results were exciting. When the mice were given all three nutrients together, the levels of important brain proteins became more normal—closer to those seen in typical mice. Also, the overactive brain cells in a part of the brain called the amygdala calmed down.
This part of the brain is involved in emotions and social interactions. Most importantly, the mice behaved in more socially appropriate ways after getting the nutrient mix.
However, when the mice received the same small amount of just one nutrient—either zinc, serine, or BCAAs—none of these positive changes happened. This showed that the nutrients need to be given together to work well. The researchers repeated the tests in two other types of autism model mice and got the same results, adding strength to their findings.
Dr. Yi-Ping Hsueh, one of the researchers, explained that autism is linked to many different genes. Because of this, trying to treat each case with a single drug based on one gene is not practical. Instead, a general approach—like using a safe combination of nutrients that help the brain connect better—could be more useful, especially for children.
Tzyy-Nan Huang added that while large doses of each nutrient on its own can help brain function, small doses do not work unless combined. Their study showed that the mix of these nutrients, even at low doses, was able to fix brain protein levels and improve social behavior in all three mouse models.
Co-lead author Ming-Hui Lin said she was amazed that just seven days of treatment led to clear changes in brain activity. The researchers watched these changes happen in real time using imaging techniques, giving strong evidence that the nutrient mix is having a real effect on brain circuits.
In summary, this study shows that combining small amounts of zinc, serine, and branched-chain amino acids may offer a safe and simple way to help improve brain function and social behavior in autism. While more research is needed in humans, these findings are a promising step toward new nutrition-based treatments for autism.
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