Omega-3 against food allergies
Food Allergies: Help from Omega-3 Supplements
Following a diet rich in Omega-3 could be a valid aid in the treatment of food allergies. This is suggested by researchers from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte (Brazil), who published in the journal Clinical and Developmental Immunology the results of a study aimed at analyzing the effect of supplementation with these fatty acids on allergy symptoms. The study adds new details on the role these nutrients play in modulating the activity of the immune system.
Omega-3 Friends of Immunity
Omega-3 fatty acids influence both immune responses and inflammatory processes. Several clinical studies have shown that fish oil, a dietary supplement rich in these nutrients, modulates the activity of molecules that trigger inflammation and factors involved in immunity. These effects do not concern adults only. Children can also benefit from the action of Omega-3 on the immune system: the first advantages start already in the womb. Some studies have revealed that children whose mothers have taken Omega-3 dietary supplements (or have eaten fish rich in these nutrients) during pregnancy have experienced the following health benefits:
- improved immune system;
- lower levels of inflammation;
- reduced likelihood of developing eczema or food allergies.
During childhood, these fatty acids have been shown to effectively reduce inflammation and symptoms of atopic dermatitis.
Fish Oil Against Allergies
Brazilian scientists analyzed the effect of administering fish oil containing Omega-3 on allergic symptoms, using mice as an experimental model. The animals were divided into 2 groups: "allergic group" and "non-allergic group".
Animals in the "allergic group" were sensitized to the presence of ovalbumin, a protein found in egg white capable of triggering allergies. Animals in the "non-allergic group" were not sensitized to the protein. In a second phase, all animals were fed with ovalbumin to trigger the allergic reaction. Additionally, the mice were assigned one of two possible diets, differing in the source of fat used.
The first diet was based on soybean oil containing 5% Omega-3. The second was enriched with fish oil, containing 25% of these fatty acids. Serum analysis showed that in the "allergic group" antibody levels against ovalbumin were higher than in the other mice. Moreover, other inflammation parameters in these animals, including edema presence, the number and activation of different types of white blood cells, and mucus production, were higher than those observed in the "non-allergic group". However, the Omega-3 enriched diet was sufficient to reduce all these inflammation symptoms.
Fish Oil Against Food Allergies
Based on the results obtained, the study authors concluded that the Omega-3 contained in fish oil could help in the treatment of food allergies. This discovery helps to further complete the role these fatty acids play in human health.
Source
1. de Matos OG, Amaral SS, Pereira da Silva PE, Perez DA, Alvarenga DM, Ferreira AV, Alvarez-Leite J, Menezes GB, Cara DC, “Dietary supplementation with omega-3-PUFA-rich fish oil reduces signs of food allergy in ovalbumin-sensitized mice”, Clin Dev Immunol. 2012;2012:236564. doi: 10.1155/2012/236564. Epub 2011 Nov 17
