Plasma fatty acids as diagnostic markers in autistic patients from Saudi Arabia

Table 2 Mean ± S.D of saturated, mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma of autistic patients compared to controls

Fatty acid	Group	N	Mean ± S.D.	Percentage change	P value
Propionic	Control	26	1.674 ± 0.441	100.00	0.000
	Autistic	26	0.874 ± 0.249	52.23
Butyric	Control	26	0.738 ± 0.211	100.00	0.028
	Autistic	26	0.587 ± 0.267	79.54
Caprylic	Control	26	2.250 ± 0.481	100.00	0.000
	Autistic	26	1.109 ± 0.281	49.31
Decanoic	Control	26	1.954 ± 0.750	100.00	0.000
	Autistic	26	0.759 ± 0.182	38.81
Lauric	Control	26	1.903 ± 0.574	100.00	0.000
	Autistic	26	0.808 ± 0.160	42.45
Palmitic	Control	26	1.905 ± 0.537	100.00	0.037
	Autistic	26	1.631 ± 0.372	85.62
Stearic	Control	26	1.219 ± 0.315	100.00	0.000
	Autistic	26	0.687 ± 0.281	56.36
Arachidic	Control	26	0.673 ± 0.174	100.00	0.000
	Autistic	26	0.425 ± 0.222	63.10
α-Linolenic	Control	26	0.354 ± 0.119	100.00	0.045
	Autistic	26	0.299 ± 0.067	84.35
Eicosapentaenoic	Control	26	0.328 ± 0.112	100.00	0.245
	Autistic	22	0.284 ± 0.145	86.64
Docosahexaenoic	Control	26	0.754 ± 0.340	100.00	0.000
	Autistic	22	0.380 ± 0.097	50.40
Linoleic	Control	26	0.359 ± 0.162	100.00	0.023
	Autistic	26	0.220 ± 0.255	61.35
γ-Linolenic	Control	26	0.716 ± 0.323	100.00	0.000
	Autistic	20	0.162 ± 0.101	22.59
Arachidonic	Control	26	0.574 ± 0.202	100.00	0.000
	Autistic	20	0.120 ± 0.040	20.89
Oleic	Control	26	1.212 ± 0.518	100.00	0.000
	Autistic	26	0.225 ± 0.064	18.55
Elaidic	Control	26	0.234 ± 0.080	100.00	0.000
	Autistic	26	0.122 ± 0.099	52.28

This table describes the independent t-test between the control and autistic groups specified saturated, mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acids are expressed in mmol/L plasma. Significant level at p < 0.001

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