Over the last three years, I have personally followed 13 autistic children whose parents worked to improve their omega-6-to-omega-3 balance (ratio). During the same periods in which their fatty-acid profiles improved, parents reported changes that included better focus, improved communication, behavioral and cognitive improvements, and, in some cases, children beginning to speak who had previously been non-verbal.
Now, you may be thinking:
What is an omega-6-to-omega-3 balance, and what could that possibly have to do with someone who is autistic?
That is exactly what I want to help you understand in this article.
Because although I am going to share the journey of one autistic boy named Josiah M., this article isn’t only about autism.
It is about cellular health, brain health, and two families of essential fatty acids—omega-6 and omega-3—that are incorporated into the membranes of our cells and participate in biological signaling throughout the body [1]. Omega-3 fatty acids are structural components of cell-membrane phospholipids, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in particular, is highly concentrated in the brain and retina.
So whether you are autistic or not, understanding these fatty acids matters.
Josiah’s story gives us an opportunity to see what happened when a child who was profoundly out of balance was tested, worked to improve that balance, and then was tested again.
His first omega-6-to-omega-3 ratio was:
45:1
His follow-up ratio was:
2.3:1
But those numbers are only the beginning of his story.
Understanding Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are not inherently “bad” and “good.”
We need both.
They are families of polyunsaturated fatty acids that contribute to cell structure and serve as precursors for biologically active compounds. Omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA, are incorporated into phospholipid membranes. Omega-6 fatty acids, including arachidonic acid (AA), also contribute to membrane structure and signaling pathways [1].
Both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids can also serve as precursors to signaling molecules called eicosanoids, which participate in cardiovascular, pulmonary, immune, endocrine, and inflammatory processes.
This is where the word balance becomes important.
The question isn’t whether you have omega-6 in your body.
You should.
The more useful question is:
What does your fatty-acid profile actually look like?
And that is something we can measure.
This Isn’t a New Idea
The scientific discussion surrounding omega-6 and omega-3 balance did not begin with me, Josiah, or the 13 autistic children I have followed.
Scientists have been investigating these fatty acids for decades.
Two researchers whose work deserves particular attention are Dr. Artemis Simopoulos and Dr. Joseph Hibbeln.
Dr. Simopoulos has published extensively on the evolutionary relationship between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. In her research on the omega-6-to-omega-3 ratio and the brain, she described evidence suggesting that humans evolved consuming a ratio around 1:1, whereas modern Western dietary patterns shifted toward ratios of approximately 10:1 to 20–25:1 [2].
That does not establish one universally optimal ratio for every person or every health condition. But it demonstrates that the relationship between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids—and its potential relevance to the brain—is a legitimate area of scientific investigation.
Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, along with Dr. Rachel Gow, has investigated omega-3 fatty acids, brain development, and neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes. Their review emphasized that omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids are important to brain structure and function and that DHA and the omega-6 fatty acid AA are particularly important in central nervous system development [3].
Again, none of this establishes that an elevated omega-6-to-omega-3 ratio causes autism or that correcting a ratio treats autism.
But it establishes something important for the conversation we are about to have:
Fatty acids and the brain are scientifically connected.
Nutrition Helps Build the Cell
This is one of the concepts I want every parent—and really, every person—to understand.
Nutrition doesn’t simply provide calories. Some of what we eat becomes part of us.
Every cell in your body is surrounded by a cell membrane.
Don’t picture that membrane as simply a plastic bag wrapped around the cell.
The cell membrane is active.
It contains proteins and receptors. It participates in signaling. It helps regulate interactions between the cell and its environment.
And fats are part of its structure.
Omega-3 fatty acids are incorporated into the phospholipids that form cell membranes, and DHA is particularly abundant in the brain.
Think about what that means:
The food we consume can actually help provide some of the building materials used to construct our cells.
That does not mean changing someone’s diet changes autism.
It means nutrition and fatty-acid status are biologically relevant to the tissues—including the brain—that support human function.
And that brings us to Josiah.
Meet Josiah M.
Josiah was 9 years old when his first BalanceTest was performed.
His baseline report was dated February 8, 2024. The report indicates that he was not taking BalanceOil or another omega-3 product at baseline.
His results immediately caught my attention.
His omega-6-to-omega-3 ratio was:
45:1 — UNBALANCED
His Omega-3 Index was:
1.7% — INSUFFICIENT
His eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) measured 0.25%, while his docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) measured 1.42%.
But there was something about Josiah that no fatty-acid test could describe.
Josiah was non-verbal.
His family wasn’t interested in changing a laboratory number simply for the sake of producing a better-looking report.
They wanted to support their son.
So they began working to improve his fatty-acid balance.
Then We Tested Again
Josiah’s follow-up test was performed when he was 10 years old. The report indicates that he was using BalanceOil at the time of his second test.
This is where my philosophy of Test. Don’t Guess. becomes so important.
We didn’t have to wonder whether his fatty-acid profile had changed.
We measured it.
And it had changed dramatically.
Josiah’s Before-and-After Results
|
Biomarker |
First Test |
Follow-Up Test |
|
Omega-6:3 Balance |
45:1 — Unbalanced |
2.3:1 — Balanced |
|
Omega-3 Index |
1.7% — Insufficient |
8.3% — Optimal |
|
Protection Value |
0% — Insufficient |
100% — Optimal |
|
“Mental Strength” Ratio* |
6.8:1 — Insufficient |
0.9:1 — Optimal |
|
Cell Membrane Fluidity Ratio* |
21.9:1 — Insufficient |
4.9:1 — Optimal |
|
AA Index |
11.3% — Elevated |
7.6% — Optimal |
|
EPA |
0.25% |
3.32% |
|
DHA |
1.42% |
4.98% |
“Mental Strength” and “Cell Membrane Fluidity” are terms used in the BalanceTest report. “Mental Strength” should not be interpreted as a validated clinical measurement of intelligence, cognitive ability, or autism severity.
The detailed fatty-acid sections of Josiah’s two laboratory reports document the changes in his individual fatty acids.
Look at four of those changes:
Omega-6:3 ratio: 45:1 → 2.3:1
Omega-3 Index: 1.7% → 8.3%
EPA: 0.25% → 3.32%
DHA: 1.42% → 4.98%
This wasn’t someone saying, “I think his omega-3 status improved.”
We have the baseline test and the follow-up test.
But something else was happening during this journey.
From Non-Verbal to Verbal
According to Josiah’s family, during the period in which his fatty-acid profile improved, Josiah went from non-verbal to verbal.
Think about what that means to a parent.
A child who wasn’t speaking began using his voice.
His family also reported better focus and improvements in cognitive skills.
And then there was another change that might seem small to someone on the outside but can mean much more to a parent watching a child’s development.
Josiah had struggled to color inside the lines.
Over time, his family watched him progress to being able to draw and color within the lines.
A task like this can involve multiple abilities working together, including visual attention, hand-eye coordination, fine-motor control, and sustained attention.
His family could see changes.
And independently of those observations, the laboratory measured substantial changes in his fatty-acid profile.
That is what makes Josiah’s journey so interesting.
What Does Autism Research Tell Us?
Here we need to separate two related—but very different—questions.
The first is whether omega-3 fatty acids and fatty-acid status are relevant to brain biology.
They clearly are.
DHA is highly represented in neural tissue, and omega-3 fatty acids participate in membrane structure and signaling. Hibbeln and Gow have also described the importance of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids to brain structure and function and neurodevelopment. [1,3]
The second question is much more specific:
Does giving omega-3 supplements treat autism?
That has not been established.
A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated 13 controlled trials of omega-3 supplementation in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although the analysis found a small change in an overall symptom measure, subgroup analyses did not demonstrate significant improvements across several specific outcomes, including hyperactivity, irritability, stereotypy, inappropriate speech, lethargy, and social function [4].
More recently, a 2025 systematic review examined omega-3 supplementation and cognitive outcomes in autistic children. The authors found signals suggesting possible improvements in areas such as memory, attention, and executive function, but they also emphasized substantial differences among studies and concluded that more extensive research is needed before firm conclusions can be reached [5].
So the scientific conclusion should not be:
“Omega-3 treats autism.”
The evidence does not establish that.
But that isn’t exactly the question Josiah’s case raises.
Josiah’s Story Is About More Than Taking Omega-3
There is an important distinction here.
Josiah’s story isn’t simply:
He took an omega-3 supplement and something happened.
We measured his fatty-acid profile before.
We measured it after.
And the change involved much more than a single number.
His omega-6-to-omega-3 ratio changed.
His Omega-3 Index changed.
His EPA changed.
His DHA changed.
His AA measurement changed.
Multiple fatty-acid markers changed substantially.
That makes this a documented nutritional change occurring alongside a reported developmental change.
It still doesn’t prove that one caused the other.
But it gives us a much more interesting question to investigate.
Correlation Is Not Causation—but It Can Point Us Toward Better Questions
I want to be very precise here.
I cannot scientifically say:
Josiah began speaking because his omega-6-to-omega-3 ratio went from 45:1 to 2.3:1.
This is an individual observational case. Josiah was also developing as a child, and therapy, education, family support, nutrition, environment, and other factors could have contributed to the changes his family witnessed.
What I can say is:
During the period in which Josiah’s objectively measured fatty-acid profile improved dramatically, his family reported substantial improvements in his communication, focus, cognitive abilities, and fine-motor-related performance.
Those two things happened during the same journey.
And Josiah isn’t the only child whose family has reported changes to me.
Josiah Is One of 13
Over the last three years, I have personally followed 13 autistic children whose families worked on improving their omega-6-to-omega-3 balance.
Parents have reported changes involving communication, speech, focus, behavior, and other aspects of daily functioning as their children’s fatty-acid profiles improved.
These 13 children do not constitute a clinical trial.
There was no randomized control group. There was no blinding. The children were not necessarily receiving identical interventions, and numerous factors could influence their development.
That means I cannot take these observations and tell you that I have proven a treatment for autism.
But after watching this pattern repeatedly, I believe it raises an important research question:
What might we learn if researchers measured fatty-acid profiles in autistic children at baseline, addressed documented imbalances, retested those children, and simultaneously tracked standardized developmental, communication, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes?
That is a question science can answer.
And I believe it deserves to be asked.
This Isn’t Just About Autism
This may be the most important point of the entire article.
You don’t have to be autistic for your fatty-acid status to matter.
Every one of us has cell membranes.
Every one of us incorporates fatty acids into those membranes.
Every one of us has a brain in which DHA plays important structural roles.
And every one of us has a measurable fatty-acid profile.
That’s why I don’t believe this conversation should be limited to autism.
It’s a conversation about nutrition and cellular health.
The goal should not be to fear omega-6.
And the goal should not simply be to start taking fish oil and assume everything is fine.
The goal is to understand what is happening in your body.
Because without measuring it, you don’t really know.
Test. Don’t Guess.
When I look at Josiah’s two reports, I see something very different from simply a testimonial.
I see a baseline measurement.
I see a follow-up measurement.
And I see a family reporting meaningful changes in their son’s life during the period between those measurements.
45:1 became 2.3:1.
1.7% became 8.3%.
0.25% EPA became 3.32%.
1.42% DHA became 4.98%.
And during that journey, according to his family, a boy who had been non-verbal began speaking.
A boy who struggled to focus began focusing better.
A boy who couldn’t color inside the lines progressed to drawing and coloring within them.
Those developmental observations don’t prove causation.
But they are meaningful to Josiah’s family. And when placed beside his objective before-and-after fatty-acid measurements, they give us something worth investigating.
Josiah’s journey began with a test.
And that’s why I continue to say:
Test. Don’t Guess.
Want to Know Your Omega-6-to-Omega-3 Balance?
You don’t have to guess whether your fatty acids are in balance.
You can test.
Whether you’re the parent or grandparent of an autistic child, or you’re simply interested in learning more about your own cellular and nutritional health, I can help you understand how to get tested and what the results mean.
The goal isn’t simply to take more omega-3.
The approach is to:
Test your current fatty-acid profile. Understand your starting point. Develop a strategy for improving documented imbalances. Then retest to see what actually changed.
That’s exactly what we did with Josiah.
45:1 → 2.3:1
If you would like to get the Omega-6-to-Omega-3 BalanceTest, learn how to improve your omega-6-to-omega-3 balance, or have me help you understand your results, contact the person that shared this article or email me directly at: robert@dietfreelife.com
If you’re the parent or grandparent of an autistic child and want to learn more about what I have observed while working with these families, you’re welcome to reach out as well.
References
-
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (n.d.). Omega-3 fatty acids: Fact sheet for health professionals.
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Simopoulos, A. P. (2011). Evolutionary aspects of diet: The omega-6/omega-3 ratio and the brain. Molecular Neurobiology, 44(2), 203–215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-010-8162-0.
PubMed: Simopoulos, 2011 - Gow, R. V., & Hibbeln, J. R. (2014). Omega-3 fatty acid and nutrient deficits in adverse neurodevelopment and childhood behaviors. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 23(3), 555–590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2014.02.002.
PubMed: Gow & Hibbeln, 2014 - Wobido, K. de A., da Cunha, M. de S. B., Miranda, S. S., Santana, J. da M., da Silva, D. C. G., & Pereira, M. (2022). Non-specific effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on autistic spectrum disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutritional Neuroscience, 25(9), 1995–2007. https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415X.2021.1913950.
PubMed: Wobido et al., 2022 - Sumra, B., Kocherry, C., Shamim, H., Jhakri, K., Al-Shudifat, M., & Mohammed, L. (2025). Impact of omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Cureus, 17(3), e80291. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.80291.
PubMed: Sumra et al., 2025
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. (n.d.). Omega-3 fatty acids: Fact sheet for health professionals.
__________
Robert Ferguson is a California- and Florida-based single father of two daughters, clinical nutritionist, Omega Balancing Coach™, researcher, best-selling author, speaker, podcast and television host, health advisor, NAACP Image Award Nominee, creator of the Diet Free Life methodology, and Chief Nutrition Officer for iCoura Health. He also serves on the Presidential Task Force on Obesity for the National Medical Association and the Health and Product Advisory Board for Zinzino, Inc.
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