Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and prevalence of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in Japanese children: The Ryukyus Child Health Study

Yoshihiro Miyake,Masashi Arakawa,Satoshi Sasaki,Keiko Tanaka

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-358

Abstract

BackgroundThe recent increase in the prevalence of allergic disorders might be a consequence of increased intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and reduced intake of n-3 PUFAs. The current cross-sectional study examined the association between intake levels and the prevalence of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in Japanese children.MethodsSubjects were 23,388 schoolchildren aged 6-15 years residing in Okinawa. The presence of eczema and/or rhinoconjunctivitis was determined according to the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. A brief diet history questionnaire for children and adolescents was administered to acquire information on dietary factors. Adjustment was made for age, sex, residential municipality, number of siblings, smoking in the household, body mass index, paternal and maternal history of allergic diseases, and paternal and maternal educational level.ResultsThe prevalences of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in the previous 12 months were 7.0% and 8.0%, respectively. Consumption of PUFAs, n-3 PUFAs, α-linolenic acid, n-6 PUFAs, and linoleic acid was positively associated with the prevalence of eczema: the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) between extreme quintiles (95% confidence intervals [CIs], P for trend) were 1.26 (1.07-1.48, 0.04), 1.31 (1.11-1.54, 0.009), 1.31 (1.12-1.55, 0.003), 1.26 (1.07-1.48, 0.01), and 1.27 (1.08-1.49, 0.01), respectively. Arachidonic acid intake was independently inversely related to eczema: the adjusted OR between extreme quintiles was 0.81 (0.69-0.95, 0.0008). Eczema was not associated with eicosapentaenoic or docosahexaenoic acid intake, or with the ratio of n-3 to n-6 PUFA intake. Only arachidonic acid intake was statistically significantly related to the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis, showing a clear inverse linear trend: the adjusted OR between extreme quintiles was 0.86 (0.74-0.997, 0.03).ConclusionsConsumption of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs, especially α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, may be positively associated with eczema. Arachidonic acid intake may be inversely related to eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis.

Highlights

The recent increase in the prevalence of allergic disorders might be a consequence of increased intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and reduced intake of n-3 PUFAs
That the total of 5497 excluded participants includes 149 participants who were excluded due to extremely low or high reported energy intake; when these 149 were excluded from the excluded participants, study subjects were more likely to have a high intake of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs in comparison to the remaining 5348 excluded participants
The current results show that higher consumption levels of PUFAs, n-3 PUFAs, a-linolenic acid, n-6 PUFAs, and linoleic acid are independently associated with an increased prevalence of eczema whereas intake of arachidonic acid is independently inversely related to the prevalence of eczema

Summary

Introduction

The recent increase in the prevalence of allergic disorders might be a consequence of increased intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and reduced intake of n-3 PUFAs. The current cross-sectional study examined the association between intake levels and the prevalence of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in Japanese children. In a second cross-sectional study of German adults, a high ratio of n-6 to n-3 PUFA intake was significantly positively related to the prevalence of atopic eczema, but not hay fever, in females [6]. The results of a third cross-sectional study of German adults showed that a higher intake of a-linolenic acid, but not linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, or eicosapentaenoic acid, was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of allergic rhinitis [7]. Significant inverse exposure-response relationships between docosahexaenoic acid intake and the prevalence of atopic eczema and allergic rhinitis were found in pregnant Japanese women [8,9]

Methods

Results

Conclusion