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.

, Allergic disease in infants up to 2 yr of age in relation to plasma omega-3 fatty acids and maternal fish oil supplementation inpregnancy and lactation, 2011, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, (22) Pediatr Allergy Immunol. AbstractBackground: We have previously reported a protective effect of maternal omega-3 long chain

ABSTRACT:The incidence of allergic diseases has increased, and a relation between allergy and dietary fatty acids has been proposed. Modulation of the maternal immune function during pregnancy may have an impact on future clinical outcomes in the child. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of omega ()-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) supplementation during pregnancy on the plasma fatty acid composition in relation to the maternal immune function. Pregnant women with allergic disease in their immediate family were supplemented daily with 2.7 g -3 LCPUFA (n ϭ 70) or 2.8 g soybean oil as placebo (n ϭ 75) from the 25th gestational week. The proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in plasma/serum phospholipids increased in the -3-supplemented group, whereas arachidonic acid decreased during intervention. Lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E 2 secretion from whole blood culture supernatants (n ϭ 59) decreased in a majority of the -3-supplemented mothers (18 of 28, p ϭ 0.002). The decreased prostaglandin E 2 production was more pronounced among nonatopic than atopic mothers. The lipopolysaccharideinduced cytokine and chemokine secretion was not affected.

ABSTRACT:We investigated whether the previously reported preventive effect of maternal -3 fatty acid supplementation on IgEassociated allergic disease in infancy may be mediated by facilitating a balanced circulating Th2/Th1 chemokine profile in the infant. Vaccine-induced immune responses at 2 y of age were also evaluated. Pregnant women, at risk of having an allergic infant, were randomized to daily supplementation with 1.6 g eicosapentaenoic acid and 1.1 g docosahexaenoic acid or placebo from the 25th gestational week through 3.5 mo of breastfeeding. Infant plasma was analyzed for chemokines (cord blood, 3, 12, 24 mo) and anti-tetanus and anti-diphtheria IgG (24 mo). High Th2-associated CCchemokine ligand 17 (CCL17) levels were associated with infant allergic disease (p Ͻ 0.05). In infants without, but not with, maternal history of allergy, the -3 supplementation was related to lower CCL17/CXC-chemokine ligand 11 (CXCL11) (Th2/Th1) ratios (p Ͻ 0.05). Furthermore, in nonallergic, but not in allergic infants, -3 supplementation was linked with higher Th1-associated CXCL11 levels (p Ͻ 0.05), as well as increased IgG titers to diphtheria (p ϭ 0.01) and tetanus (p ϭ 0.05) toxins. Thus, the prospect of balancing the infant immune system toward a less Th2-dominated response, by maternal -3 fatty acid supplementation, seems to be influenced by allergic status. (Pediatr Res 69: 259-264, 2011)

Omega-3 milk fatty acids were higher in women who received omega-3 supplements than the placebo group (p < 0.01). Higher proportions of milk eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid and a lower arachidonic/eicosapentaenoic acid ratio were associated with an absence of IgE-associated disease in the infants. None of the children developed IgE-associated atopic eczema above a level of 0.83 mol% eicosapentaenoic acid in colostrum. [Correction added on 7 July 2016, after online publication: In the preceding sentence, the correct word should be "above" instead of "below" and this has been amended in this current version.] CONCLUSION: High omega-3 LCPUFA milk levels in mothers who received omega-3 LCPUFA supplements were related to fewer allergies in their children.