Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation may decrease the risk of infant allergy.
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.
Furuhjelm
Catrin
C
Division of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. catrin.furuhjelm@lio.se
Warstedt
Kristina
K
Larsson
Johanna
J
Fredriksson
Mats
M
Böttcher
Malin Fagerås
MF
Fälth-Magnusson
Karin
K
Duchén
Karel
K
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
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D007073:Immunoglobulin E