High levels of omega‐3 fatty acids in milk from omega‐3 fatty acid‐supplemented mothers are related to less immunoglobulin E‐associated disease in infancy

Abstract

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.

EAACI position paper: Influence of dietary fatty acids on asthma, food allergy, and atopic dermatitis

“…In three studies and one subgroup analysis, pregnant women received supplements ranging from 900 mg to 3.7 g n ‐3 LC‐PUFA with varying amounts of DHA and EPA. IgE‐associated diseases, including AD, were significantly reduced by n ‐3 LC‐PUFA supplementation in the study by Furujelhm et al and in the subgroup analysis in the Warstedt et al study . Palmer et al only observed an effect for AD in sensitized participants .…”

Fatty fish intake in mothers during pregnancy and in their children in relation to the development of obesity and overweight in childhood: The prospective ABIS study

“…Lower maternal intake of omega‐3 PUFA during pregnancy leading to lower levels of EPA and DHA in infant cord blood has been reported to be associated with obesity in childhood . Similarly, maternal n‐3 PUFA intake also influences omega‐3 PUFA milk composition and may partly explain the association between breastfeeding and obesity as well as the relation between overweight in infancy and at 5 years of age …”

“…32,33 Lower maternal intake of omega-3 PUFA during pregnancy leading to lower levels of EPA and DHA in infant cord blood has been reported to be associated with obesity in childhood. 6 Similarly, maternal n-3 PUFA intake also influences omega-3 PUFA milk composition 34 and may partly explain the association between breastfeeding and obesity 26 as well as the relation between overweight in infancy and at 5 years of age. 16 As the main source of n-3 LCPUFA is fatty fish in the diet, we hypothesize that low maternal intake of fatty fish during pregnancy and low intake of fatty fish during childhood is related to the development of overweight/obesity in childhood.…”

Effect of maternal supplementation with fish oil during pregnancy and lactation on allergy development in childhood

“…In this issue of Acta Paediatrica , a follow‐up study by Warstedt et al aimed to examine the association between maternal omega‐3 LCPUFA supplementation, omega‐3 LCPUFA proportions in breast milk and allergic diseases at two years of age. Higher proportions of omega‐3 LCPUFAs were observed in the breast milk of the supplemented mothers and were associated with lower levels of IgE‐associated eczema and food reactions in the first two years of life.…”

“…We have previously proposed that the perinatal period of life is of high importance for later allergy development . In the study by Warstedt et al , the effect of supplementation of omega‐3 LCPUFA on allergy was not evaluated separately during pregnancy and lactation. Hence, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the role of the omega‐3 LCPUFA content in breast milk per se .…”