Asthma Risk in Babies Reduced by Omega-3 Oil Supplements

Pregnant women who consume fish rather than fish oil supplements are just as likely to protect their offspring from developing asthma. A research team at the University of South Florida in Tampa found that children whose mothers consume high-dose omega-3 fatty acids daily during the 3rd trimester are less likely to develop breathing problems such as wheezing or asthma. Fish oil supplements reduce wheezing and asthma
The yearly prevalence of persistent wheeze or asthma was lower among the children of mothers who received supplementation, and this effect did not appear to change between the ages of 2 and 5 years.

Supplementation was associated with a reduced risk of lower respiratory tract infections in the first 3 years of life and up to 5 years of follow-up.

The risk of persistent wheeze or asthma was reduced by approximately 7 percentage points, or one third, in the first 5 years of life among children of women who received daily supplementation with n−3 LCPUFA (Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid) during the third trimester of pregnancy. This effect was most prominent among children of women with low pre-intervention EPA and DHA (EPA and DHA are fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids) blood levels. Supplementation was also associated with a reduced risk of infections of the lower respiratory tract but not with a reduced risk of eczema, or allergic sensitization.

The review published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice examined two articles. The New England Journal of Medicine study included 346 pregnant women in their 3d trimester who took omega-3 fatty acids daily and 349 who took a placebo. The investigators also divided the trial population into three groups based on their blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids. The population with the lowest blood levels benefited the most from fish oil supplementation.

Among pregnant women in their 3rd trimester into fish oil, placebo and "no oil" groups. The fish oil group took omega-3 fatty acids daily as did the placebo (olive oil) group. The "no oil" group was informed of the trial proposal and therefore could consume fish oil or fish during the 3rd trimester if they chose to do so. Researchers found the fish oil and the "no oil" groups took less asthma medication as they aged to 24 years old, inferring both groups developed less asthma.

Omega-3 Goodness
"Omega-3 fatty acids cannot be synthesized by humans and therefore are essential nutrients which are derived exclusively from marine sources," said Lin. "It may be premature to recommend daily high dose fish oil supplementation during the 3rd trimester."

Advertisement

"With almost equal to slightly higher cost, consuming 8-12 ounces (2-3 servings) of fish a week not only may attain the same asthma protection, but strengthens the nutritional benefits to infant growth and development," said Lockey.

In conclusion, these findings show that omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy was associated with a significantly diminished burden of wheezing and asthma in children.

Advertisement

References:

1. Hans Bisgaard, Jakob Stokholm et al. Fish Oil–Derived Fatty Acids in Pregnancy and Wheeze and Asthma in Offspring, The New England Journal of MedicineDOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1503734

Source-Eurekalert