Fish Oil May Reduce Allergy Risk in Infants

Research on omega-3 fatty acids of the last two decades expanded almost exponentially. Through this research, omega-3s have been linked to a seemingly endless number of health benefits. While omega-3 are most commonly known for their potential benefits to cardiac and cognitive functions, research has linked the fatty acids to improvements in everything from vision to mood to skin health.

Two omega-3 fatty acids in particular, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), seem to be the most beneficial omega-3s to human health.

A new Swedish study has found that taking a fish oil supplement high in DHA & EPA during pregnancy may provide life-long benefits to children. The children of mothers who take fish oil supplements during pregnancy and while breast-feeding may have a lower risk of developing food allergies and eczema.

In this new study, the researchers recruited 145 pregnant women who either had allergies, husbands who had allergies, or had a previous child with allergies. The women were randomly assigned either a daily supplement containing 1600mg EPA and 1100mg DHA or a placebo, starting at 25 weeks of pregnancy and continuing for up to 4 months of nursing. The researchers used a number of tests including skin prick tests, detection of circulating specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies and clinical examinations to determine the presence of allergies and eczema. IgEs are a class of antibodies that are strongly associated with an allergic response and are responsible for certain types of eczema.

Analysis of the results found that the children of the mothers given the omega-3 supplement had a significantly lower risk of developing both allergies and eczema. Food allergies were found in 2% of the children whose mothers received the omega-3 supplement versus 15% in the placebo group. The incidence of IgE-associated eczema in the omega-3 group was 8%, one third of the incidence of the placebo group (24%). The researchers concluded that "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."

The researchers suggest that the increased intake of the omega-3s reduced inflammation and thereby reduced allergic response. Food allergies in children iare a growing problem in much of the Western World. It is estimated that 8% of children in the EU and 20% of the children in the US now suffer from food allergies. If further testing confirms these results, omega-3s could have significant potential to parents everywhere.

Learn more about omega-3 here

1. Furuhjelm, C., K. Warstedt, et al. (2009). "Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation may decrease the risk of infant allergy." Acta Paediatr.