title: N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and atopy in Korean preschoolers.
abstract: Atopy is a growing problem for Korean children. Since eicosapentaenoic acid is a precursor of less active inflammatory eicosanoids, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may have a protective effect on atopy. This study was undertaken to determine whether n-3 PUFA in red blood cells (RBC) is lower in atopic than in non-atopic preschoolers. Three hundred and eight Korean children aged 4-6 years were enrolled. Total RBC fatty acid composition was measured by gas chromatography. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, or asthma was 29%. Total RBC n-3 PUFA were lower in preschoolers with atopy than controls (9.8 +/- 1.2 vs. 11.4 +/- 1.6%; P<0.05), while n-6 PUFA (33.0 +/- 1.4 vs. 32.2 +/- 1.0%; P<0.05) and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio (3.4 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.5; P<0.05) were greater. The following factors were also associated with an increase in atopy: higher saturated fatty acids (39.6 +/- 1.4 vs. 40.6 +/- 1.9; P<0.05) and arachidonic acid (15.3 +/- 1.6 vs. 16.0 +/- 2.9; P<0.05), and lower total PUFA (43.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 42.8 +/- 1.4; P<0.05) and omega-3 index (EPA + DHA; 9.1 +/- 0.8 vs. 7.8 +/- 0.5; P<0.05) in RBC. Maternal history of atopy was a significant (P<0.05) risk factor, while lactation was not. The results suggest that a reduced content of n-3 PUFA in the RBC membrane could play a role in early children atopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Occupational Medicine, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Inkyung
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Aeri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Hyosun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyejung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Taeho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Byungmann
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Suill
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yongsoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid