Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation may decrease the risk of infant allergy

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica Vol. 98; no. 9; pp. 1461 - 1467
• Main Authors: Furuhjelm, Catrin, Warstedt, Kristina, Larsson, Johanna, Fredriksson, Mats, Böttcher, Malin Fagerås, Fälth-Magnusson, Karin, Duchén, Karel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-09-2009; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adult; Allergic diseases; Allergy; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Feeding; Chi-Square Distribution; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Eczema; Eczema - epidemiology; Eczema - immunology; Eczema - prevention & control; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Female; Food Hypersensitivity - epidemiology; Food Hypersensitivity - immunology; Food Hypersensitivity - prevention & control; General aspects; Humans; Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunopathology; Infant; Lactation; Lactation - immunology; Logistic Models; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Medical sciences; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Pregnancy; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Skin allergic diseases. Stinging insect allergies; Skin Tests; Human; Immunopathology; Allergy; Pediatrics; Skin disease; Lactation; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Lipids; Infant; n-3 fatty acid; Fish oil; Pregnancy; Decrease; Eczema; Risk factor; Unsaturated fatty acid; Female; Supplementation; Woman
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2009.01355.x

Maternal intake of omega‐3 (ω‐3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during pregnancy has decreased, possibly contributing to a current increased risk of childhood allergy.
Aim:  To describe the effects of maternal ω‐3 long‐chain PUFA supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the incidence of allergic disease in infancy.
Methods:  One hundred and forty‐five pregnant women, affected by allergy themselves or having a husband or previous child with allergies, were included in a randomized placebo‐controlled trial. Daily maternal supplementation with either 1.6 g eicosapentaenoic acid and 1.1 g docosahexaenoic acid or placebo was given from the 25th gestational week to average 3–4 months of breastfeeding. Skin prick tests, detection of circulating specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies and clinical examinations of the infants were performed.
Results:  The period prevalence of food allergy was lower in the ω‐3 group (1/52, 2%) compared to the placebo group (10/65, 15%, p < 0.05) as well as the incidence of IgE‐associated eczema (ω‐3 group: 4/52, 8%; placebo group: 15/63, 24%, p < 0.05).
Conclusion:  Maternal ω‐3 fatty acid supplementation may decrease the risk of food allergy and IgE‐associated eczema during the first year of life in infants with a family history of allergic disease.