Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid exposure from early life does not affect atopy and asthma at age 5 years

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2007-06, Vol.119 (6), p.1438-1444
• Main Authors: Almqvist, Catarina, MD, PhD, Garden, Frances, BAppSci, Xuan, Wei, MSc, PhD, Mihrshahi, Seema, MPH, Leeder, Steve R., MD, PhD, Oddy, Wendy, PhD, Webb, Karen, MPH, PhD, Marks, Guy B., MBBS, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Allergy and Immunology; Asthma; Asthma - blood; Asthma - diet therapy; Biological and medical sciences; birth cohort; child; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Clinical trials; Cohort Studies; Cooking; Dietary Supplements; eczema; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - blood; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - blood; Fish oils; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Immediate - blood; Hypersensitivity, Immediate - diet therapy; Infant; Intervention; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; omega-3 fatty acids; omega-6 fatty acids; Plasma; primary prevention; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2007.01.046

Background The Childhood Asthma Prevention Study was a randomized controlled trial conducted in children with a family history of asthma in whom omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and restriction of dietary omega-6 fatty acids did not prevent asthma, eczema, or atopy at age 5 years. Objective We sought to examine the relation of all measures of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids with outcomes at age 5 years in the whole birth cohort, regardless of randomization group. Methods Plasma fatty acids were measured at 18 months, 3 years, and 5 years. Compliance with the fatty acid supplements was estimated every 6 months. Dietary intake was assessed at 18 months by means of weighed-food record and at 3 years by means of food-frequency questionnaire. At age 5 years, 516 children were examined for wheeze and eczema (questionnaire) and atopy (skin prick tests, n = 488). Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between exposures and outcomes. Results Plasma levels of omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids were not associated with wheeze, eczema, or atopy at age 5 years ( P  = .11-.96). Overall, fatty acid exposure, measured as plasma levels, dietary intake, and compliance with supplements, was not associated with any respiratory or allergic outcomes ( P  = .35-.59). Conclusion This observational analysis of the cohort, using the full range of observed variation in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid exposure, supports the negative findings of the randomized controlled trial. Clinical implications Modification of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids in early childhood is not helpful in preventing atopy and asthma.