Intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in childhood, FADS genotype and incident asthma

Abstract

Longitudinal evidence on the relation between dietary intake of n-3 (omega-3) very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in mid-childhood and asthma risk is scarce. We aimed to investigate whether a higher intake of EPA and DHA from fish in childhood is associated with a lower risk of incident asthma.In the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, dietary intakes of EPA and DHA from fish were estimated by food frequency questionnaire at 7 years of age. We used logistic regression, controlling for confounders, to analyse associations between intake of EPA and DHA (quartiles) and incidence of doctor-diagnosed asthma at age 11 or 14 years, and explored potential effect modification by a fatty acid desaturase (FADS) polymorphism (rs1535). Replication was sought in the Swedish BAMSE birth cohort.There was no evidence of association between intake of EPA plus DHA from fish and incident asthma overall (n=4543). However, when stratified by FADS genotype, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) comparing top versus bottom quartile amongst the 2025 minor G allele carriers was 0.49 (0.31–0.79) (p-trend 0.006), but no inverse association was observed in the homozygous major A allele group (odds ratio 1.43, 95% confidence interval 0.83–2.46, p-trend 0.19) (p-interaction 0.006). This gene-nutrient interaction on incident asthma was replicated in BAMSE.In children with a common FADS variant, higher intake of EPA and DHA from fish in childhood was strongly associated with a lower risk of incident asthma up to mid-adolescence.

A dose-response meta-analysis of the association between the maternal omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids supplement and risk of asthma/wheeze in offspring

“…Among them, n-3 and n-6 PUFAs possess important physiological functions [ 13 , 14 ]. The change of the n-3/n-6 LC-PUFA ratio in the diet, especially the increased consumption of n-6 LC-PUFA and the decreased consumption of n-3 LC-PUFA, are considered to be linked with an increased risk of asthma or wheeze [ 15 – 17 ]. In many countries, high consumption of vegetable oils and meat has increased the intake of n-6 LC-PUFA and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4, n-6), respectively.…”

Nasopharyngeal lipidomic endotypes of infants with bronchiolitis and risk of childhood asthma: a multicentre prospective study

“…For example, DHA and EPA are precursors for protectins and resolvins, which bring about a programmed resolution of the inflammatory process 50 51. Observational studies and randomised controlled trials have also shown a protective effect of PUFAs on asthma development52–54—for example, an inverse association of plasma PUFA levels and dietary PUFA intake with the risk of allergic sensitisation and asthma-like symptoms at age 3 years 52. Supplementation with ω−3 long-chain PUFAs during the third trimester of pregnancy significantly reduced the risk of persistent wheeze or asthma in offspring 53.…”

Dietary intake and plasma concentrations of PUFAs in childhood and adolescence in relation to asthma and lung function up to adulthood

“…In the present study, there were no consistent differences in the observed association related to gender, allergic sensitization, or FADS genotype. One recent longitudinal study on dietary VLC n–3 PUFAs from fish intake however observed a significant inverse association with incident asthma up to adolescence only among the minor allele G carriers of the FADS gene, associated with lower plasma concentrations of VLC n–3 PUFAs ( 17 ). Similar results were observed in a randomized trial on fish oil supplementation in pregnancy, where the strongest effect of supplementation in relation to childhood asthma was observed in children of mothers carrying the same FADS gene variant ( 12 ).…”

“…Longitudinal analyses from the Barn, Allergi, Miljö, Stockholm, Epidemiologi (BAMSE) birth cohort have previously shown that regular intake of fish in infancy, as well as biomarkers of fish intake at school age, can reduce the risk of allergic disease including asthma ≤12 and ≤16 y of age, respectively ( 11 , 16 ). In addition, a recent study based on the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort, with replication in the BAMSE birth cohort, found that this association may be modified by fatty acid desaturase ( FADS ) genotype ( 17 ). The results showed that higher intake of the VLC n–3 PUFAs EPA (20:5n–3) and DHA (22:6n–3) from fish in childhood was inversely associated with incident asthma up to adolescence only among participants with a common genetic variant (minor G allele), which has previously been associated with lower plasma concentrations of VLC n–3 PUFAs ( 17 ).…”

“…In addition, a recent study based on the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort, with replication in the BAMSE birth cohort, found that this association may be modified by fatty acid desaturase ( FADS ) genotype ( 17 ). The results showed that higher intake of the VLC n–3 PUFAs EPA (20:5n–3) and DHA (22:6n–3) from fish in childhood was inversely associated with incident asthma up to adolescence only among participants with a common genetic variant (minor G allele), which has previously been associated with lower plasma concentrations of VLC n–3 PUFAs ( 17 ).…”