Effect of Omega-3 against Valproic Acid-neuroteratogenicity: A narrative review

Document Type : Review Articles

Authors

1 ِِAssistant professor of anatomy and embryology faculty of medicine zagazig university egypt

2 anatomy and Embryology department , Faculty of medicine , Arish university ,Mansoura , Egypt .

3 anatomy and Embryology department , Faculty of medicine , Zagazig university ,Zagazig , Egypt .

4 Anatomy Department; Faculty of Medicine; Zagazig University

Abstract

Background: Some retrospective and prospective clinical studies have shown that prenatal Valproic Acid (VPA) exposure can cause signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, including social impairment, communication impairments, anxiety, obsessive/repetitive behaviour, and impaired motor abilities.



Bipolar illness, migraine, and epilepsy are all treated with valproic acid (VPA that act as an inhibitor of histone deacetylases and an epigenetic modulator. VPA is a powerful teratogen for the progeny of human females undergoing pregnancy. The teratogenicity of VPA revealed foetal valproate syndrome, a condition in which offspring have characteristics of ASD, dysmorphic features, cardiac abnormalities, neural tube malformations, and neurodevelopmental delay.



Omega-3 is polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) present in seafood-like krill and algae as well as fish. These PUFAs are found in the cell membrane phospholipids.

For some high-fat tissues, such as brain and retina, Omega-3 fatty acids (OM3FAs) have a stabilizing and protective impact. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is one of OM3FAs and it is a crucial component of the brain's phospholipid membranes, that has the capacity to preserve the cell membrane integrity of neural tissues for improving the cognitive function, Alzheimer disease, and dementia.

Conclusion: Valproic acid intake during pregnancy exerted neurotoxic effect on the offspring and Omega-3 may have a protective effect against Valproic acid neurotoxicity.

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