Fish oil intervention to prevent infant allergy

Abstract

Among the many changes in lifestyle that have been identified as possible factors in the increase in asthma and allergic disease in Western countries is decreased intake of oily fish. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that the failure of normal immune regulation that characterizes allergy occurs in early life. On the basis of these 2 observations, Dunstan and coworkers (p 1178) examined the effect of fish oil supplementation in 40 pregnant women (from 20 weeks' gestation to delivery) on the immune response in their infants. Fish oil supplementation resulted in significantly higher levels of n-3 and lower levels of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the neonatal erythrocyte membranes. Although for the most part it was not statistically significant, cord mononuclear cells from babies in the fish oil supplementation group generally had weaker cytokine (IL-5, Il-13, IL-10, and IFN-γ) response to allergens and mitogen. At 1 year of age, a number of trends and significant differences were observed in the fish oil supplementation group: infants in this group were 3 times less likely be sensitized to egg allergen, and though they were more likely to develop atopic dermatitis, they were 10 times less likely to have severe disease. The authors conclude that their data suggest the potential for a reduction in subsequent infant allergy after maternal fish oil supplementation. They also point out that more detailed follow-up studies are required in larger cohorts to establish the robustness of their findings and to ascertain their significance in relation to longer-term modification of allergic disease in children.Selected articles are indicated in the Table of Contents by EC Among the many changes in lifestyle that have been identified as possible factors in the increase in asthma and allergic disease in Western countries is decreased intake of oily fish. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that the failure of normal immune regulation that characterizes allergy occurs in early life. On the basis of these 2 observations, Dunstan and coworkers (p 1178) examined the effect of fish oil supplementation in 40 pregnant women (from 20 weeks' gestation to delivery) on the immune response in their infants. Fish oil supplementation resulted in significantly higher levels of n-3 and lower levels of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the neonatal erythrocyte membranes. Although for the most part it was not statistically significant, cord mononuclear cells from babies in the fish oil supplementation group generally had weaker cytokine (IL-5, Il-13, IL-10, and IFN-γ) response to allergens and mitogen. At 1 year of age, a number of trends and significant differences were observed in the fish oil supplementation group: infants in this group were 3 times less likely be sensitized to egg allergen, and though they were more likely to develop atopic dermatitis, they were 10 times less likely to have severe disease. The authors conclude that their data suggest the potential for a reduction in subsequent infant allergy after maternal fish oil supplementation. They also point out that more detailed follow-up studies are required in larger cohorts to establish the robustness of their findings and to ascertain their significance in relation to longer-term modification of allergic disease in children. Selected articles are indicated in the Table of Contents by EC