title: Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation may decrease the risk of infant allergy.
abstract: Maternal intake of omega-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during pregnancy has decreased, possibly contributing to a current increased risk of childhood allergy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the effects of maternal omega-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 25(th) 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 omega-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 (omega-3 group: 4/52, 8%; placebo group: 15/63, 24%, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal omega-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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. catrin.furuhjelm@lio.se
authors.forename: Catrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Furuhjelm
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Warstedt
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fredriksson
authors.forename: Malin Fagerås
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Böttcher
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fälth-Magnusson
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duchén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007774:Lactation / Q000276:immunology; D016015:Logistic Models; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D007073:Immunoglobulin E