Does Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Pregnancy and During Lactation Protect the Child From Allergic Disease?

Summary

The incidence of allergic diseases has increased and a relation between allergy and dietary fatty acids has been proposed. Modulation of the maternal immune function during pregnancy may have an impact on future clinical outcomes in the child. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of omega (ω) - 3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the development of allergic disease (i.e., allergic eczema) in the child at 2 years of age. Pregnant women with allergic disease in their immediate family were supplemented daily with 2.7 g ω-3 LCPUFA (n=70) or 2.8 g soybean-oil as placebo (n=75) from gestational week (gw) 25 until the third month of breastfeeding. Skin prick tests, detection of circulating specific IgE antibodies and clinical examinations of the infants were performed at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months of age. The mothers and children were monitored regarding immune modulatory effects during the entire study period.

Conditions

• Allergies

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

2.7g ω-3 LCPUFA i.e., 1.6 g EPA and 1.1 g DHA and 23 mg alfa-tocopherol as an antioxidant

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Soybean oil (placebo)

2.8 g soybean oil containing 2.5 g linoleic acid and 0.28 g α-linolenic and 36 mg alfa-tocopherol

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Pharma Nord

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• The Ekhaga Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS)

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Ostergotland County Council, Sweden

  collaborator OTHER

• The Swedish Asthma and Allergy Research Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden.

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Linkoeping University

  lead OTHER_GOV

Principal Investigators

• Karel M Duchén, MD, PhD · Linkoeping University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2003-03-31

Primary Completion

2005-06-30

Completion

2011-09-30

Countries

• Sweden

Study Locations