title: Fatty acids in breast milk associated with asthma-like symptoms and atopy in infancy: a longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between fatty acids (FAs) in breast milk and the risk of childhood allergies is controversial. We prospectively investigated the relationship between FAs in colostrum and breast milk and asthma-like symptoms (AS) and atopy in infancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women were recruited in Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina. Colostrum and mature milk samples were collected. The concentrations of n-3 FAs (eicosapentaenoic acid, α-linolenic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid) and n-6 FAs (linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and eicosadienoic acid) were determined by gas chromatography. AS were ascertained at 6 and 12 months of age and atopy (skin prick test) at 12 months. FAs were dichotomized (high vs. median and low). Generalized estimating equations were used to determine the effect of FAs on repeated AS, compensating for intra-individual correlations and adjusting for confounders. Log-linear regression was used to analyze atopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FAs were analyzed in 24 colostrum and 78 breast milk samples. High levels of total n-6 (lipid based) FAs in breast milk were associated with an increased risk of AS in infants (risk ratio (RR) = 2.91; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37, 6.18), even after controlling for total n-3 FAs (RR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.12, 3.85). High levels of total n-3 FAs controlling for n-6 FAs decreased the risk of atopy at the age of 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High levels of total n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in breast milk are associated with an increased risk for AS, whereas high levels of total n-3 PUFAs decreased the risk of atopy. These data suggest that the effects of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs on allergic disorders should be further explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: Nelís
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Soto-Ramírez
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Karmaus
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jihong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Billings
authors.forename: Venugopal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gangur
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amrol
authors.forename: Kerry-Ann
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goetzl
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007223:Infant; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6