Fish oil supplementation in early infancy modulates developing infant immune responses.
BACKGROUND
Maternal fish oil supplementation during pregnancy has been associated with altered infant immune responses and a reduced risk of infant sensitization and eczema.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of early postnatal fish oil supplementation on infant cellular immune function at 6 months of age in the context of allergic disease.


METHODS
In a double-blind randomized controlled trial (ACTRN12606000281594), 420 infants of high atopic risk received fish oil [containing 280 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 110 mg eicosapentanoic acid (EPA)] or control oil daily from birth to 6 months. One hundred and twenty infants had blood collected at 6 months of age. Fatty acid levels, induced cytokine responses, T cell subsets and monocyte HLA-DR expression were assessed at 6 months of age. Infant allergies were assessed at 6 and 12 months of age.


RESULTS
DHA and EPA levels were significantly higher in the fish oil group and erythrocyte arachidonic acid (AA) levels were lower (all P < 0.05). Infants in the fish oil group had significantly lower IL-13 responses (P = 0.036) to house dust mite (HDM) and higher IFNγ (P = 0.035) and TNF (P = 0.017) responses to phytohaemaglutinin (PHA). Infants with relatively high DHA levels had lower Th2 responses to allergens including lower IL-13 to β-lactoglobulin (BLG) (P = 0.020), and lower IL-5 to BLG (P = 0.045).


CONCLUSIONS
Postnatal fish oil supplementation increased infant n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels and associated with lowered allergen-specific Th2 responses and elevated polyclonal Th1 responses. Our results add to existing evidence of n-3 PUFA having immunomodulatory properties that are potentially allergy-protective.
School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
N
N
D'Vaz
S J
SJ
Meldrum
J A
JA
Dunstan
T F
TF
Lee-Pullen
J
J
Metcalfe
B J
BJ
Holt
M
M
Serralha
M K
MK
Tulic
T A
TA
Mori
S L
SL
Prescott
D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D000367:Age Factors; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male
D016207:Cytokines; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D007155:Immunologic Factors