Omega-3 & Infant Allergies

A new study shows that mothers who take in omega-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during pregnancy may produce children with a reduced risk of childhood allergies. This is described by the effects of maternal omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy and its impact on lactation and the incidence of allergic disease in infancy.*

One hundred and forty-five pregnant women, affected by allergies themselves or having a husband or previous child with allergies, were included in a randomized placebo-controlled trial. They were given daily supplementation with either 1.6 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 1.1 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or placebo. They took the supplements starting at the 25th gestational week to average 3-4 months of breastfeeding. By performing skin prick tests on the infants, it was discovered that the prevalence of food allergy was lower in the omega-3 group compared to the placebo group. There was also a decreased incidence of IgE-associated eczema in the omega-3 group. Researchers concluded that maternal omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may decrease the risk of food allergy and IgE-associated eczema during infancy to one year in a family with history of allergies.

Viteyes® Omega-3 has 1,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids daily: 300 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 200 mg docosahexaenoic acid (EHA).

*Furuhjelm C, Warstedt K, Larsson J, Fredriksson M, Böttcher MF, Fälth-Magnusson K, Duchén K. “Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy and lactation may decrease the risk of infant allergy.” Acta Paediatr. Division of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. 2009 Jun 1.