title: The impact of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on respiratory illness in infants and children.
abstract: Increasing evidence suggests that intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), especially omega-3 LCPUFA, improves respiratory health early in life. This review summarizes publications from 2009 through July 2012 that evaluated effects of fish, fish oil or LCPUFA intake during pregnancy, lactation, and early postnatal years on allergic and infectious respiratory illnesses. Studies during pregnancy found inconsistent effects in offspring: two showed no effects and three showed protective effects of omega-3 LCPUFA on respiratory illnesses or atopic dermatitis. Two studies found that infants fed breast milk with higher omega-3 LCPUFA had reduced allergic manifestations. Earlier introduction of fish improved respiratory health or reduced allergy in four studies. Three randomized controlled trials showed that providing LCPUFA during infancy or childhood reduced allergy and/or respiratory illness while one found no effect. Potential explanations for the variability among studies and possible mechanisms of action for LCPUFA in allergy and respiratory disease are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Department, Wageningen University, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, the Netherlands. jeske.hageman@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jeske H J
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hageman
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hooyenga
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Diersen-Schade
authors.forename: Deolinda M Felin
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Scalabrin
authors.forename: Harry J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wichers
authors.forename: Eileen E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Birch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000178:diet therapy; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000178:diet therapy
chemical_list: D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils