Association of Maternal Erythrocyte PUFA during Pregnancy with Offspring Allergy in the Chinese Population

Abstract

Findings on prenatal polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and offspring allergies have been inconsistent, and the majority of studies have focused on Western populations. This study aimed to investigate the associations between maternal erythrocyte PUFA and offspring allergies in the first 2 years in the Chinese population. We included 573 mother–infant pairs from a birth cohort. Based on the outpatient medical records, we identified the diagnosis and time of offspring allergic disease onset. We measured erythrocyte fatty acids by gas chromatography. Associations were examined using Cox regression. We found that higher maternal total PUFA levels (HR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.94), especially of arachidonic acid (AA) (HR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.97) and n-3 PUFA (HR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.97), were associated with reduced risk of offspring allergies. Similar results were found for eczema. Compared with children without a maternal allergy history, the associations of total PUFA (p = 0.028) and n-6 PUFA (p = 0.013) with offspring allergies were stronger in those with a maternal allergy history. Maternal erythrocyte total PUFA, especially AA, and n-3 PUFA were inversely associated with offspring allergies within 2 years of age. There was a significant interaction between maternal allergy history and maternal PUFA in offspring allergies.

The Associations of Prenatal Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Its Chemical Components with Allergic Rhinitis in Children and the Modification Effect of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: A Birth Cohort Study

“…We measured erythrocyte PUFAs using gas chromatography, following the methods previously described. 25 In short, we thawed the red cell samples and added Tris-HCl buffer, which hemolyzed the cells. The resulting red blood cells were then centrifuged at for 10 min to obtain the bottom layer of milky red blood cell fragments.…”

“… 21 – 23 During pregnancy, PUFAs are important inflammation and immune modulators, 24 and we have shown beneficial associations of maternal PUFAs with allergic diseases in toddlers. 25 An animal study also suggested that n-3 PUFAs could combat toxicity by suppressing IgE production and improving respiratory outcomes, 26 but the results have not yet been verified in pregnant women. Further exploration of the moderating effect of PUFAs may provide insights into preventive measures against the adverse effects of air pollution for vulnerable populations.…”