Researchers from Academia Sinica in Taiwan have found that a combination of three dietary supplements—zinc, serine, and branched-chain amino acids—can improve social behaviors in mice with autism-like symptoms. The study, led by Tzyy-Nan Huang and Ming-Hui Lin, was published on December 2 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.
The research focused on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is linked to abnormal neural development affecting connections between neurons. Nutrition is recognized as an environmental factor that can influence ASD. Previous studies have suggested that zinc, serine, and branched-chain amino acids each have positive effects on neural connectivity when taken separately.
The team hypothesized that combining these three supplements would be more effective than using them individually and could allow for lower dosages. They tested this theory using three different mouse models of ASD. Their methods included measuring synapse-related proteins, conducting calcium imaging to observe neural activity in the amygdala, and assessing social behavior.
The results showed that the supplement mixture changed protein expression at synapses in autistic mice so they resembled those of typical mice. It also reduced abnormal hyperactivity of neurons in the amygdala and improved social behaviors. In contrast, giving each supplement alone at the same dosage did not produce behavioral changes. This pattern was observed across all three mouse models studied, suggesting a synergistic effect from combining the nutrients at low doses.
Yi-Ping Hsueh stated: "As hundreds of genes are implicated in autism, each with distinct molecular functions, a 'one gene–one therapy' approach is impractical for addressing the complexity of ASD. Our findings show that a low-dose nutrient mixture containing zinc, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), and serine-working synergistically to improve synaptic function and social behaviors across three ASD mouse models-offers a safer and more practical strategy for long-term, broad application, even beginning in childhood."
Tzyy-Nan Huang added: "High doses of individual nutrient supplements such as zinc, branched-chain amino acids, and serine can improve synaptic function through different mechanisms, but low doses of any single nutrient alone are ineffective. It is exciting to see that combining these nutrients at low doses successfully restores synaptic proteomes and enhances social behaviors in three different mouse models of autism."
