Children, Omega-3 Reduces Dust Mite and Milk Allergies
Omega 3 in Children: fewer allergies to dust mites and milk
The intake of fish oil supplements rich in Omega-3 during the first six months of life reduces allergies to dust mites and milk in children. Taking fish oil supplements rich in Omega-3 helps reduce allergies to dust mites and milk proteins in children. This discovery, which adds new details to the anti-allergic properties of these fatty acids, was published in Clinical and Experimental Allergy1 and is the result of work led by Susan Prescott from the University of Western Australia in Perth (Australia).
Omega-3 and children's health
Omega-3 fatty acids are useful for child development already during pregnancy. Several studies have demonstrated the benefits for the baby of the mother’s intake of these nutrients. In particular, Omega-3 are essential for the proper development of the nervous system in the child. Furthermore, taking these fatty acids during pregnancy reduces inflammatory phenomena in childhood. Even after birth, increasing Omega-3 intake continues to exert beneficial effects on health. Research to date has shown that, in addition to reducing inflammation, these nutrients promote the development of intellectual abilities both in children without learning problems and in those with certain behavioral disorders. Other positive effects of Omega-3 in children include the improvement of symptoms of these same behavioral disorders and the reduction of asthma and the severity of asthmatic attacks.
A closer look at allergies
The benefits, however, do not stop there. Several studies suggest that, taken at various stages of development, Omega-3 can counteract various allergic phenomena. Studies conducted in mice have shown that an Omega-3 enriched diet could be a valid help in treating food allergies. Moreover, taking these fatty acids during pregnancy reduces the incidence of eczema and egg allergy in newborns. Finally, in children, increased Omega-3 intake counteracts atopic dermatitis. The study by Prescott and colleagues, however, is the first to have analyzed the effect of administering fish oil during the first six months of life. The children involved in the research were given daily, from birth to six months of age, either an oil without Omega-3 or fish oil containing 280 mg of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and 110 mg of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), the two main food-derived Omega-3s. At the end of the study, the researchers checked for molecules involved in allergic reactions in the children’s blood. The analysis showed that, besides having higher EPA and DHA levels in the blood, the children who received fish oil exhibited a lower allergic response to dust mites and milk proteins. According to the authors, these results support the hypothesis that adequate levels of Omega-3 in the earliest phases after birth have a positive effect on the development of the immune system and allergies. However, although the doses of Omega-3 given to the children were quite high, the increase of EPA and DHA detected in the blood was modest. Possible explanations for this effect include an inefficient administration method: part of the fish oil may have remained in the capsules or been spat out by the children. Therefore, the authors hypothesize that a method based on the mother’s intake of fish oil during breastfeeding could be more effective. New studies will clarify these details.
Source:
1. D'Vaz N, Meldrum SJ, Dunstan JA, Lee-Pullen TF, Metcalfe J, Holt BJ, Serralha M, Tulic MK, Mori TA, Prescott SL, “Fish oil supplementation in early infancy modulates developing infant immune responses,” Clin Exp Allergy. 2012 Aug;42(8):1206-1
