Maternal PUFA status and offspring allergic diseases up to the age of 18 months.
Studies have suggested that maternal PUFA status during pregnancy may influence early childhood allergic diseases, although findings are inconsistent. We examined the relationship between maternal PUFA status and risk of allergic diseases in early childhood in an Asian cohort. Maternal plasma samples from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes mother-offspring cohort were assayed at 26-28 weeks of gestation for relative abundance of PUFA. Offspring (n 960) were followed up from 3 weeks to 18 months of age, and clinical outcomes of potential allergic diseases (rhinitis, eczema and wheezing) were assessed by repeated questionnaires. Skin prick testing (SPT) was also performed at the age of 18 months. Any allergic disease with positive SPT was defined as having any one of the clinical outcomes plus a positive SPT. The prevalence of a positive SPT, rhinitis, eczema, wheezing and any allergic disease with positive SPT was 14·1 % (103/728), 26·5 % (214/808), 17·6 % (147/833), 10·9 % (94/859) and 9·4 % (62/657), respectively. After adjustment for confounders, maternal total n-3, n-6 PUFA status and the n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio were not significantly associated with offspring rhinitis, eczema, wheezing, a positive SPT and having any allergic disease with positive SPT in the offspring (P>0·01 for all). A weak trend of higher maternal n-3 PUFA being associated with higher risk of allergic diseases with positive SPT in offspring was observed. These findings do not support the hypothesis that the risk of early childhood allergic diseases is modified by variation in maternal n-3 and n-6 PUFA status during pregnancy in an Asian population.
Department of Paediatrics,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System,Singapore,Singapore.
Ya-Mei
YM
Yu
Biostatistics Unit, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System,Singapore,Singapore.
Yiong-Huak
YH
Chan
Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton,Southampton,UK.
Philip C
PC
Calder
Department of Paediatrics,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System,Singapore,Singapore.
Antony
A
Hardjojo
Department of Paediatrics,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System,Singapore,Singapore.
Shu-E
SE
Soh
Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science,Technology and Research (A*STAR),Singapore.
Ai Lin
AL
Lim
Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton,Southampton,UK.
Helena L
HL
Fisk
KK Women's and Children's Hospital,Singapore,Singapore.
Oon Hoe
OH
Teoh
KK Women's and Children's Hospital,Singapore,Singapore.
Anne
A
Goh
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System,Singapore,Singapore.
Seang-Mei
SM
Saw
KK Women's and Children's Hospital,Singapore,Singapore.
Kenneth
K
Kwek
Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science,Technology and Research (A*STAR),Singapore.
Peter D
PD
Gluckman
Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton,Southampton,UK.
Keith M
KM
Godfrey
Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science,Technology and Research (A*STAR),Singapore.
Yap-Seng
YS
Chong
Department of Paediatrics,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System,Singapore,Singapore.
Lynette Pei-Chi
LP
Shek
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System,Singapore,Singapore.
An
A
Pan
Department of Paediatrics,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System,Singapore,Singapore.
Mary Foong Fong
MF
Chong
Department of Paediatrics,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System,Singapore,Singapore.
Hugo P S
HP
van Bever
D000328:Adult; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004485:Eczema / Q000209:etiology; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012306:Risk; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D012882:Skin Tests
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6
Skin prick testing