Maternal fish oil supplementation in pregnancy reduces interleukin‐13 levels in cord blood of infants at high risk of atopy Impact of early dietary gamma-linolenic acid supplementation on atopic eczema in infancy. Postnatal Fish Oil Supplementation in High-Risk Infants to Prevent Allergy: Randomized Controlled Trial Formula with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces incidence of allergy in early childhood. Modulation of DNA methylation states and infant immune system by dietary supplementation with ω-3 PUFA during pregnancy in an intervention study. Effects of long-chain PUFA supplementation in infant formula on cognitive function in later childhood. Consumption of fish, butter and margarine during pregnancy and development of allergic sensitizations in the offspring: role of maternal atopy. Fish oil supplementation in pregnancy modifies neonatal allergen-specific immune responses and clinical outcomes in infants at high risk of atopy: a randomized, controlled trial. PUFA and LC-PUFA intake during the first year of life: can dietary practice achieve a guideline diet? Dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk of hip fracture in men and women Fish Oil Supplementation in Pregnancy Lowers F2-isoprostanes in Neonates at High Risk of Atopy Neurodevelopmental Quotient of Healthy Term Infants at 4 Months and Feeding Practice: The Role of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Modification of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids via complementary food enhances n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis in healthy infants: a double blinded randomised controlled trial Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and breast cancer risk in Chinese women: A prospective cohort study A randomized trial of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in infants with phenylketonuria. Prediction of cardiovascular mortality in middle-aged men by dietary and serum linoleic and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Increased n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids do not attenuate the effects of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on insulin sensitivity or triacylglycerol reduction in Indian Asians. Maternal dietary folate, folic acid and vitamin D intakes during pregnancy and lactation and the risk of cows' milk allergy in the offspring. Type of dietary fat is associated with the 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 increment in response to vitamin D supplementation. Randomised controlled trial of essential fatty acid supplementation in phenylketonuria Fish Oil Supplementation in Pregnancy Modifies Neonatal Progenitors at Birth in Infants at Risk of Atopy [Evaluation of a local infant formula enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids produced in Israel]. Do early intake of fish and fish oil protect against eczema and doctor-diagnosed asthma at 2 years of age? A cohort study
Background and objectives The epidemiological association between higher dietary n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA ) and lower prevalence of asthma , has led to interest in the role of early dietary modification in allergic disease prevention . In this study we examined the effects of maternal n‐3 (PUFA)‐rich fish oil supplementation on cord blood ( CB ) IgE and cytokine levels in neonates at risk of developing allergic disease Polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFAs ) are components of cell membranes and may play an immunomodulating role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis ( AD ) . The goal was to determine the impact of PUFAs on AD by dietary supplementation of infants . Based on the parents ' decision on their babies ' primary feeding , mothers and newborns were r and omized to the supplementation with gamma-linolenic acid ( GLA ) or placebo for up to 6 months . Breastfed infants received GLA by supplementing their mothers . Formula diet was commercial whey hydrolysate unsupplemented with PUFAs .  Of 131 eligible infants , 24 developed AD within the first year of life . Of these , nine belonged to the exclusively breastfed group ( n = 58 ) , 14 to the combined-fed group ( n = 53 ) , and one to the never breastfed group ( n = 20 ) . We could not find an influence of GLA on the development of AD . In subjects with AD , at 1 yr of age the serum-immunoglobulin E ( IgE ) was the lowest in the GLA-supplemented group A-subjects . In the GLA-supplemented group , GLA-levels in breast milk were similar in atopic and non-atopic infants . In the non-supplemented group the GLA-content of breast milk was 0.07 % of total fatty acids in atopic infants vs. 0.17 % in non-atopic infants ( p < 0.01 ) . Dietary GLA-supplementation could not prevent AD . Interestingly , the number of infants developing AD was the lowest in never breastfed children . In infants suffering from AD , GLA-supplementation seemed to reduce total IgE in the first year of life BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE : Relative deficiency of dietary omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( n-3 PUFA ) has been implicated in the rising allergy prevalence in Westernized countries . Fish oil supplementation may provide an intervention strategy for primary allergy prevention . The objective of this study was to assess the effect of fish oil n-3 PUFA supplementation from birth to 6 months of age on infant allergic disease . METHODS : In a double-blind r and omized controlled trial , 420 infants at high atopic risk received a daily supplement of fish oil containing 280 mg docosahexaenoic acid and 110 mg eicosapentaenoic acid or a control ( olive oil ) , from birth to age 6 months . PUFA levels were measured in 6-month-old infants ’ erythrocytes and plasma and their mothers ’ breast milk . Eczema , food allergy , asthma and sensitization were assessed in 323 infants for whom clinical follow-up was completed at 12 months of age . RESULTS : At 6 months of age , infant docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid levels were significantly higher ( both P < .05 ) and erythrocyte arachidonic acid levels were lower ( P = .003 ) in the fish oil group . Although n-3 PUFA levels at 6 months were associated with lower risk of eczema ( P = .033 ) and recurrent wheeze ( P = .027 ) , the association with eczema was not significant after multiple comparisons and there was no effect of the intervention per se on the primary study outcomes . Specifically , between-group comparisons revealed no differences in the occurrence of allergic outcomes including sensitization , eczema , asthma , or food allergy . CONCLUSIONS : Postnatal fish oil supplementation improved infant n-3 status but did not prevent childhood allergic disease BACKGROUND Allergy has sharply increased in affluent Western countries in the last 30 years . N-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids ( n-3 LCPUFAs ) may protect the immune system against development of allergy . METHODS We prospect ively categorized illnesses by body system in a subset of 91 children from the Kansas City cohort of the DIAMOND ( DHA Intake and Measurement of Neural Development ) study who had yearly medical records through 4 years of age . As infants , they were fed either a control formula without LCPUFA ( n = 19 ) or one of three formulas with LCPUFA from docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ) and arachidonic acid ( ARA ) ( n = 72 ) . RESULTS Allergic illnesses in the first year were lower in the combined LCPUFA group compared to the control . LCPUFAs significantly delayed time to first allergic illness ( p = 0.04 ) and skin allergic illness ( p = 0.03 ) and result ed in a trend to reduced wheeze/asthma ( p = 0.1 ) . If the mother had no allergies , LCPUFAs reduced the risk of any allergic diseases ( HR = 0.24 , 95 % CI = 0.1 , 0.56 , p = 0.0.001 ) and skin allergic diseases ( HR = 0.35 , 95 % CI = 0.13 , 0.93 , p = 0.04 ) . In contrast , if the mother had allergies , LCPUFAs reduced wheezing/asthma ( HR = 0.26 , 95 % CI = 0.07 , 0.9 , p = 0.02 ) . CONCLUSIONS LCPUFA supplementation during infancy reduced the risk of skin and respiratory allergic diseases in childhood with effects influenced by maternal allergies BACKGROUND Early-life exposures to tobacco smoke and some dietary factors have been identified to induce epigenetic changes in genes involved in allergy and asthma development . Omega-3 ( n-3 ) polyunsaturated fatty acid ( PUFA ) intake during pregnancy could modulate key cytokines and T helper ( Th ) cell maturation ; however , little is known about the mechanism by which ω-3 PUFA could have a beneficial effect in preventing inflammatory disorders . OBJECTIVE We sought to test whether prenatal dietary supplementation with ω-3 PUFA during pregnancy may modulate epigenetic states in the infant immune system . DESIGN This study was based on a r and omized intervention trial conducted in Mexican pregnant women supplemented daily with 400 mg docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ) or a placebo from 18 to 22 wk of gestation to parturition . We applied quantitative profiling of DNA methylation states in Th1 , Th2 , Th17 , and regulatory T-relevant genes as well as LINE1 repetitive elements of cord blood mononuclear cells ( n = 261 ) . RESULTS No significant difference in promoter methylation levels was shown between ω-3 PUFA-supplemented and control groups for the genes analyzed ; however , ω-3 PUFA supplementation was associated with changes in methylation levels in LINE1 repetitive elements ( P = 0.03 ) in infants of mothers who smoked during pregnancy . Furthermore , an association between the promoter methylation levels of IFNγ and IL13 was modulated by ω-3 PUFA supplementation ( P = 0.06 ) . CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that maternal supplementation with ω-3 PUFA during pregnancy may modulate global methylation levels and the Th1/Th2 balance in infants . Therefore , the epigenetic mechanisms could provide attractive targets for prenatal modulation and prevention of inflammatory disorders and potentially other related diseases in childhood and adulthood BACKGROUND Evidence is accumulating that a dietary supply of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids ( LC-PUFAs ) enhances the development of attention and efficient information processing in infants . However , it is uncertain whether LC-PUFAs in infancy influence cognitive development in later childhood . OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine the effects of dietary LC-PUFAs in infancy on measures of cognitive function at age 6 y. DESIGN Infants were r and omly assigned to receive formula containing either docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid or no LCPUFAs for a period of 4 mo . A reference breastfed group was also included . In a follow-up conducted at age 6 y , children received assessment s of intelligence quotient ( IQ ) , attention control ( Day-Night Test ) , and speed of processing on the Matching Familiar Figures Test ( MFFT ) . RESULTS At follow-up there were 71 children in the LC-PUFA group , 76 in the control group , and 88 in the breastfed group . The formula groups did not differ on measures of Full-Scale IQ ( LCPUFA mean = 98.0 ; control mean = 100.9 ) or attention control ( LCPUFA mean = 12.7 ; control mean = 12.8 ) . MFFT error scores were the same for both formula groups , but when making correct responses , the LC-PUFA group was significantly faster ( mean = 6.2 s ) than the control group [ mean = 7.8 s ; F(1 , 131 ) = 6.09 , P = 0.015 ] . CONCLUSIONS IQ scores of children who were fed a formula containing either LC-PUFAs or no LC-PUFAs did not differ at age 6 y. However , children who received LC-PUFAs were faster at processing information compared with children who received unsupplemented formula . Variation in the dietary supply of LC-PUFAs in the first months of life may have long-term consequences for the development of some cognitive functions in later childhood It has been suggested that changes in dietary habits , particularly increased consumption of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA ) and decreased consumption of omega-3 PUFAs may explain the increase in atopic disease seen in recent years . Furthermore , it seems possible that it is mainly prenatal or very early life environmental factors that influence the development of allergic diseases . It has also been suggested that intrauterine risk factors may act differently if mother themselves suffer from allergic disease . The aim of this study was to investigate whether the consumption of fish , butter and margarine during pregnancy might influence the development of allergic sensitizations in the offspring . The study population was divided into the offspring of allergic and non-allergic mothers . This was a retrospective cohort study enrolling 295 offspring of allergic mothers and 693 of non-allergic mothers . Information regarding maternal intake of fish , butter and margarine during pregnancy as well as other prenatal and perinatal confounding factors were retrospectively assessed by parental report via a st and ardized question naire . Atopy was determined by skin-prick tests ( SPT ) to eight prevalent inhalant allergens and two foods . In the allergic mothers ' group there is no clear correlation between maternal intakes of fish , butter and margarine  and sensitizations to food or inhalants . In the non-allergic mothers ' group there was no correlation between butter and margarine  intake and food or inhalant sensitizations . On the contrary , a protective effect of fish intake on SPT positivity was observed . In particular , frequent maternal intake ( ' 2 - 3 times/wk or more ' ) of fish reduced the risk of food sensitizations by over a third ( aOR 0.23 ; 95 % CI : 0.08 - 0.69 ) . A similar trend , even if not significant , was found for inhalants . Finally , even in the whole study population , i.e. allergic group plus non-allergic group , there was a similar trend between increased consumption of fish and decreased prevalence of SPT positivity for foods . This study shows that frequent intake of fish during pregnancy may contrast the development of SPT sensitizations for foods in the offspring of mothers without atopic disease . Therefore , larger prospect i ve studies are needed , enrolling mothers with and without allergic disease , to confirm these results BACKGROUND There is growing interest in the potential role of anti-inflammatory n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( n-3 PUFAs ) in the prevention of allergic disease . OBJECTIVE We sought to determine whether maternal dietary supplementation with n-3 PUFAs during pregnancy could modify immune responses in infants . METHODS In a r and omized , controlled trial 98 atopic , pregnant women received fish oil ( 3.7 g n-3 PUFAs per day ) or placebo from 20 weeks ' gestation until delivery . Neonatal PUFA levels and immunologic response to allergens were measured at birth . RESULTS Eighty-three women completed the study .  Fish oil supplementation ( n = 40 ) achieved significantly higher proportions of n-3 PUFAs in neonatal erythrocyte membranes ( mean + /- SD , 17.75 % + /- 1.85 % as a percentage of total fatty acids ) compared with the control group ( n = 43 , 13.69 % + /- 1.22 % , P < .001 ) . All neonatal cytokine ( IL-5 , IL-13 , IL-10 , and IFN-gamma ) responses ( to all allergens ) tended to be lower in the fish oil group ( statistically significant only for IL-10 in response to cat ) . Although this study was not design ed to examine clinical effects , we noted that infants in the fish oil group were 3 times less likely to have a positive skin prick test to egg at 1 year of age ( odds ratio , 0.34 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.11 to 1.02 ; P = .055 ) . Although there was no difference in the frequency of atopic dermatitis at 1 year of age , infants in the fish oil group also had significantly less severe disease ( odds ratio , 0.09 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.01 to 0.94 ; P = .045 ) . CONCLUSIONS These data suggest a potential reduction in subsequent infant allergy after maternal PUFA supplementation . More detailed follow-up studies are required in larger cohorts to establish the robustness of these findings and to ascertain their significance in relation to longer-term modification of allergic disease in children Background : An appropriate supply of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids ( LC-PUFAs ) during early childhood may enhance cognitive development . Little attention is paid to the fatty acid ( FA ) supply during the complementary feeding period . We examined the polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFAs ) and LC-PUFAs pattern in dietary practice of two study groups and evaluated the results against the present Dietary Guidelines in Germany . Methods : The food consumption and FA pattern of dietary practice in subjects from two prospect i ve studies ( n=102 and n=184 , respectively ) at the age of 3 , 6 and 9 months was assessed by weighed diet records , and changes during the first year of life were compared with the food-based dietary guidelines for the first year of life . Results : Dietary practice in the complementary feeding period was clearly dominated by commercial food products . The FA composition in dietary practice was different from the Guideline Diet and the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs was less favorable . Consumption of breast milk or formula was still of major importance for the intake of LC-PUFAs in the complementary feeding period . Conclusion : LC-PUFAs are predominantly provided by breast milk and formula during the first year of life and consequently decrease when milk consumption decreases . For compensation , commercial complementary food might come closer to the Guideline Diet by lowering the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio through appropriate vegetable oil along with an increase in total fat content up to the legal limit Summary Data on the impact of polyunsaturated fatty acid intake on hip fracture risk are inconsistent . We investigated this association in 75,878 women and 46,476 men and did not find a significant role for polyunsaturated fatty acid intake in the prevention of hip fractures . Introduction Polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA ) are important in the prevention of chronic diseases , but studies of bone health report inconsistent results . Our aim was to investigate the association between dietary PUFA  intake and risk of hip fracture in two large prospect i ve cohorts of men and women with long follow-up times and frequently up date d dietary data . Methods The study population included 75,878 women and 46,476 men free of osteoporosis at baseline .  Dietary intakes  were assessed by a food frequency question naire at baseline and several times during the follow-up . Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate relative risks ( RR ) . Results During 24 years of follow-up , we identified 1,051 hip fracture cases due to low or moderate trauma among the women and 529 cases among the men . In the pooled analyses , no statistically significant associations were found between intakes of total PUFA [ RR in the highest vs. lowest quintile : 0.99 , 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) 0.69 , 1.43 ; p value for trend is = 0.83 ] , total n-3 PUFA ( RR 0.89 , 95 % CI 0.75 , 1.06 ; p value for trend is = 0.26 ) , total n-6 PUFA ( RR 0.99 , 95 % CI 0.71 , 1.38 ; p value for trend is = 0.82 ) , n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio or individual PUFAs , and hip fracture risk . However , in women low intakes of total PUFA , total n-6 PUFA , and linoleic acid were associated with higher risk . Conclusions This study does not support a significant role for PUFA intake in the prevention of hip fractures , although low total PUFA , n-6 PUFA , or linoleic acid intakes may increase the risk in women The anti-inflammatory properties of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( n-3 PUFA ) have suggested a potential role of these nutrients in dietary modification for prevention of allergic disease in early life . As oxidative stress is known to modify antigen presenting cell ( APC ) signalling and result ing immune responses , we examined the effects of maternal n-3 PUFA supplementation in pregnancy on markers of oxidative stress and APC function in neonates at high risk of allergy . Eighty-three pregnant atopic women were r and omised to receive 4 g daily of either fish oil ( n=40 ) or olive oil ( n=43 ) capsules in a controlled trial from 20 weeks gestation until delivery . Plasma ( cord blood ) and urinary F2-isoprostanes were measured as markers of lipid peroxidation . Cord erythrocyte fatty acids and markers of APC function ( HLA-DR expression and cytokine responses ) were measured and related to levels of plasma F2-isoprostanes . Maternal fish oil supplementation lowered plasma ( p<0.0001 ) and urinary ( p=0.06 ) F2-isoprostanes . HLA-DR expression on APC was not different between the groups . In multiple regression analysis , 28.8 % of the variance in plasma F2-isoprostanes was explained by positive relationships with erythrocyte arachidonic acid ( AA ) and monocyte HLA-DR expression and a negative relationship with erythrocyte eicosapentaenoic acid ( EPA ) . This study shows that maternal supplementation with fish oil can attenuate neonatal lipid peroxidation . Clinical follow-up of these infants will help to determine if there are sustained effects on postnatal oxidative stress and expression of allergic disease ABSTRACT : A direct influence of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids ( LC-PUFA ) on the developmental quotient ( DQ ) of the healthy term infant remains unexplored . To test this hypothesis , we design ed a prospect i ve study of three types of diet . Twentynine infants received a LC-PUFA-supplemented formula , 31 received a st and ard infant formula , and 30 infants were breastfed exclusively .  Neurodevelopmental response was measured by the Brunet-Lézine psychomotor development lest at 4 mo . The fatty acid status was also assessed among three diet subgroups ( 59 subjects ) at 4 mo . Formula-fed infants who received LC-PUFA supplementation scored significantly higher ( p < 0.01 ) on the Brunet-Lézine scale than infants who received the st and ard formula . Breast-fed infants also performed better than those fed the st and ard formula . Arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid levels in circulating lipids and erythrocyte phospholipids were higher among breast-fed infants and among the group fed the arachidonic- and docosahexaenoic acid-supplemented formula . These findings are suggestive that formula supplementation with one or both of these fatty acids can benefit term infants in neurodevelopmental performance Objective : To study the effect of modified polyunsaturated fatty acid ( PUFA ) profiles of complementary food on long-chain ( LC ) PUFA composition in healthy infants . Design : Double blinded , r and omised , controlled intervention trial . Setting : Dortmund , Germany . Patients : Free-living sample of healthy term infants . Methods : Participants were r and omly assigned within the first 2 months of life . During the intervention period from 4 to 10 months , the control group ( n = 53 ) received commercial complementary meals with corn oil ( 3.4 g/meal ) rich in n-6 linoleic acid ( LA ) , the intervention group ( n = 49 ) received the same meals with rapeseed oil ( 1.6 g/meal ) rich in n-3 alpha-linolenic acid ( ALA ) .  Fatty acid intake was assessed from dietary records throughout the intervention period . Fatty acid proportions ( % of total fatty acid ) in total plasma were analysed before and after the intervention . Results : Plasma fatty acid profiles did not differ between the intervention and control groups before the intervention . During the intervention , the only difference in fatty acid intake between the intervention and control groups was a higher intake of ALA in the intervention group , 21 % deriving from study food and a lower ratio of LA/ALA ( 10.7 vs 14.8 ) . At the end of the intervention , the plasma proportions of total n-3 fatty acids and of n-3 LC-PUFA , but not of ALA , were higher and the ratios of n-6/n-3 fatty acids were lower in the intervention group . Conclusions : Feasible dietary modifications of the precursor fatty acid profile via n-3 PUFA-rich vegetable oil favoured n-3 LC-PUFA synthesis in the complementary feeding period when LC-PUFA intake from breast milk and formula is decreasing Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women . Controversy exists regarding the role of dietary fat in breast cancer etiology . We investigated the association of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFAs ) and the ratio of n‐6 PUFAs to marine‐derived n‐3 PUFAs with  breast cancer risk in the Shanghai Women 's Health Study , a prospect i ve cohort study including 72,571 cancer‐free participants at baseline .  Dietary fatty acid intake was determined using food frequency question naires . We used Cox proportional hazards analysis to estimate the relative risks ( RRs ) and 95 % confidence intervals ( CIs ) for the association of breast cancer risk with dietary fatty acids consumption . In 583,998 person‐years of follow‐up , we identified 712 breast cancer cases . We found no association of breast cancer risk to dietary intake of linoleic acid , arachidonic acid , α‐linolenic acid or marine‐derived n‐3 PUFA . We found a statistically significant interaction between n‐6 PUFA intake , marine‐derived n‐3 PUFA intake and breast cancer risk ( p = 0.008 ) . Women with lower intake ( the lowest tertile ) of marine‐derived n‐3 PUFA and higher intake ( the highest tertile ) of n‐6 PUFA had an increase risk for breast cancer ( RR = 2.06 ; 95 % CI = 1.27–3.34 ) compared to women with higher intake ( the highest tertile ) of marine‐derived n‐3 PUFAs and lower intake ( the lowest tertile ) of n‐6 PUFAs after adjusting for potential confounders . The relative amounts of n‐6 PUFA to marine‐derived n‐3 PUFAs may be more important for breast cancer risk than individual dietary amounts of these fatty acids Forty-two infants ( 20 males , 22 females ) with classical phenylketonuria ( PKU ) entered a prospect i ve , double-blind , r and omized study to investigate the effects on biochemical and physiological outcomes of a phenylalanine-free infant formula containing a fat blend supplemented with the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids ( LC-PUFA ) , docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA , C22:6 n-3 ) , and arachidonic acid ( AA , C20:4 n-6 ) . Between entry and 20 weeks ( entry and 1y ) of age , median DHA levels in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids decreased by 15 % ( 22 % ) in the LC-PUFA supplemented group ( n=21 ) and by 61 % ( 64 % ) in the control group ( p<0.001 ; n=18 ) . A dietary supply of LC-PUFA in infants with PKU prevents the decline in DHA levels associated with a diet supplying minimal sources of LC-PUFA . DHA status in turn , independent of diet , may influence the maturation of the visual system in infants with PKU BACKGROUND Substitution of dietary polyunsaturated for saturated fat has long been recommended for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) , but only a few prospect i ve cohort studies have provided support for this advice . METHODS We assessed the association of dietary linoleic and total polyunsaturated fatty acid ( PUFA ) intake with cardiovascular and overall mortality in a population -based cohort of 1551 middle-aged men . Dietary fat composition was estimated with a 4-day food record and serum fatty acid composition . RESULTS During the 15-year follow-up , 78 men died of CVD and 225 of any cause . Total fat intake was not related to CVD or overall mortality . Men with an energy-adjusted dietary intake of linoleic acid ( relative risk [ RR ] 0.39 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 0.21 - 0.71 ) and PUFA ( RR , 0.38 ; 95 % CI , 0.20 - 0.70 ) in the upper third were less likely to die of CVD than men with intake in the lower third after adjustment for age . Multivariate adjustment weakened the association somewhat . Mortality from CVD was also lower for men with proportions of serum esterified linoleic acid ( RR , 0.42 ; 95 % CI , 0.21 - 0.80 ) and PUFA ( RR , 0.25 ; 95 % CI , 0.12 - 0.50 ) in the upper vs lower third , with some attenuation in multivariate analyses . Serum and to a lesser extent dietary linoleic acid and PUFA were also inversely associated with overall mortality . CONCLUSIONS Dietary polyunsaturated and more specifically linoleic fatty acid intake may have a substantial cardioprotective benefit that is also reflected in overall mortality . Dietary fat quality seems more important than fat quantity in the reduction of cardiovascular mortality in men BACKGROUND Indian Asians in Western countries have a higher rate of coronary artery disease than do the indigenous white population s , and this higher rate may be influenced by a dietary imbalance of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFAs ) . OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that a high background dietary intake of n-6 PUFA attenuates the effects of fish-oil supplementation on insulin sensitivity and associated blood lipids of the metabolic syndrome . DESIGN Twenty-nine Indian Asian men were recruited to participate in a 12-wk dietary intervention trial . Volunteers were r and omly assigned to receive either a moderate or a high n-6 PUFA diet featuring modified oils and spreads over a 6-wk period . After this 6-wk period , both groups were supplemented with 4.0 g fish oil/d ( 2.5 g eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid ) for an additional 6 wk in combination with the dietary treatment . Volunteers participated in a postpr and ial study and an insulin sensitivity test after the 6-wk dietary intervention and again after the fish-oil supplementation period . RESULTS There was no significant time x treatment interaction for blood lipids or insulin action after dietary intervention with the moderate or high n-6 PUFA diets in combination with fish oil . After the 6-wk period of fish oil supplementation , fasting and postpr and ial plasma triacylglycerol concentrations decreased significantly . CONCLUSION The background dietary n-6 PUFA concentration did not modulate the effect of fish-oil supplementation on blood lipids or measures of insulin sensitivity in this ethnic group Maternal nutrient intake during pregnancy and lactation potentially influences the development of allergic diseases . Cows ' milk allergy ( CMA ) is often the first manifestation of atopic diseases , but the impact of early nutritional influences on CMA has not been explored . The associations between maternal intakes of folate , folic acid and vitamin D during pregnancy and lactation were addressed in a prospect i ve , population -based birth cohort within the Finnish Type 1 Diabetes Prediction and Prevention Study . Mothers of 4921 children during pregnancy and 2940 children during lactation provided information on maternal dietary intake during the 8th month of pregnancy and the 3rd month of lactation using a detailed , vali date d FFQ . Information on diagnosed CMA in the offspring was obtained from a medical registry as well as queried from the parents . The Finnish food composition data base was used to calculate nutrient intake . Logistic regression was applied for statistical analyses .  Folate intake and folic acid and vitamin D supplement  use were associated with an increased risk of CMA in the offspring , whereas vitamin D intake from foods during pregnancy was associated with a decreased risk of CMA . Thus , maternal nutrient intake during pregnancy and lactation may affect the development of CMA in offspring . Supplementation with folic acid may not be beneficial in terms of CMA development , especially in children of allergic mothers . The association between dietary supplement use and CMA risk can at least partly be explained by increased health-seeking behaviour among more educated mothers who also use more dietary supplements CONTEXT Mono- and polyunsaturated fats may have opposing effects on vitamin D absorption . OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine whether intakes of different dietary fats are associated with the increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D ( 25OHD ) after supplementation with vitamin D(3 ) . DESIGN , SETTING , AND PARTICIPANTS This analysis was conducted in the active treatment arm of a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D and calcium supplementation to prevent bone loss and fracture . Subjects included 152 healthy men and women age 65 and older who were assigned to 700 IU/d vitamin D(3 ) and 500 mg/d calcium .  Intakes of monounsaturated fatty acids ( MUFA ) , polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA ) , and saturated fatty acids ( SFA ) were estimated by food frequency question naire . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The change in plasma 25OHD during 2 yr  vitamin D and calcium supplementation was assessed . RESULTS The change in plasma 25OHD ( nanograms per milliliter ) during vitamin D supplementation was positively associated with MUFA , ( β = 0.94 ; P = 0.016 ) , negatively associated with PUFA , ( β = -0.93 ; P = 0.038 ) , and positively associated with the MUFA/PUFA ratio ( β = 6.46 ; P = 0.014 ) . CONCLUSION The fat composition of the diet may influence the 25OHD response to supplemental vitamin D(3 ) . Diets rich in MUFA may improve and those rich in PUFA may reduce the effectiveness of vitamin D(3 ) supplements in healthy older adults . More studies are needed to confirm these findings Objective : The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids ( LC-PUFA ) status of children with PKU is often compromised . LC-PUFA , which are important fatty acids in the development of the CNS , can be synthesis ed endogenously from the parent essential fatty acids ( EFA ) provided dietary intakes are adequate . This study was design ed to assess the biochemical effect over a 20-week period of a phe-free protein substitute that has been supplemented with a balanced blend of n-3 and n-6 EFAs on LC-PUFA status of children with PKU . Design , setting and subjects : Fifty three community-living children aged 1–10 years diagnosed with PKU in the newborn period were recruited from seven tertiary centres in the UK and France and r and omised to a fat-free control formula or the EFA-supplemented test-treatment formula in an open , prospect i ve study . Forty four children completed the study ( 20 controls , 24 test-treatments ) . Fatty acid status was assessed at entry and 20-weeks follow-up . Three day dietary diaries were recorded at 20 weeks ' follow-up . The safety , efficacy and palatability of the test-treatment formula were also assessed . Results : The test-treatment group had significantly higher intakes of fat and EFA than the control group . There was a significant between group difference ( P=0.04 ) in increases in median docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ) concentrations in erythrocyte phospholipids , which increased by 19 % in the test-treatment group and by 0.5 % in the control group over the study period . Growth and phe control were satisfactory in all subjects . Conclusions : Supplementing the diets of children with PKU with a balanced blend of n-6 and n-3 EFA improves DHA status without compromising AA status Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA ) may represent a mode of allergy prevention . Cord blood ( CB ) CD34 + hemopoietic progenitors are altered in infants at risk of atopy . We therefore studied the effects of dietary n-3 PUFA supplementation during pregnancy on numbers and function of progenitors in neonates at high risk of atopy . In a double-blind study , atopic , pregnant women were r and omized to receive fish oil capsules or placebo from 20 wk gestation until delivery . At birth , CB CD34 + cells were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry for expression of cytokine ( IL-5Rα , IL-3Rα , granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor Rα ) or chemokine ( CXCR4 and CCR3 ) receptors . CB cells were also cultured in methylcellulose assays for eosinophil/basophil colony-forming cells . At age 1 y , infants were clinical ly assessed for atopic symptoms and skin tests . Percentages of CB CD34 + cell numbers were higher after n-3 PUFA than placebo .  Co-expression of cytokine or chemokine receptors on CD34 cells was not altered by n-3 PUFA supplementation . However , there were significantly more IL-5-responsive CB eosinophil/basophil colony forming units ( Eo/B-CFU ) in the fish oil , compared with the control , group . Overall , there was a positive association between CD34 + cells and IL-5-responsive Eo/B-CFU in CB and 1 y clinical outcomes , including atopic dermatitis and wheeze . Dietary n-3 PUFA supplementation during pregnancy in atopic mothers alters infant cord blood hemopoietic progenitor phenotype . This may have an impact on development of atopic disease Polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA ) are vital for the normal development of the brain and the eye retina in infancy . Breast milk contains significant amounts of PUFA , and compensates for their low production in infancy . Only recently a few companies with worldwide product distribution have started to enrich infant formula with PUFA . We evaluated the safety and clinical efficacy of a locally made PUFA-enriched infant formula , produced for the first time in Israel . 50 normal , full term infants participated in a prospect i ve , r and omized double-blind study . Half received a regular whey-predominant infant formula ( Materna Plus ) , and the other half a PUFA-enriched formula ( Materna Premium ) , both produced in Israel , for 30 days . Evaluation included physical examination , growth parameters , stool analysis , daily parental question naires regarding infant behavior and defecation , and developmental assessment . There were no significant differences on comparing growth parameters , infant behavior , attacks of restlessness , gas severity , or stool characteristics in the 2 groups . There were no side effects or abnormal stool findings in either group , and no differences in developmental assessment at 3 months of age . We conclude that the locally-produced PUFA-enriched infant formula is safe and clinical ly efficient . We assume that the lack of any effect on developmental indices is due to the relatively short exposure to the PUFA-enriched diet . Nevertheless , based on the recent literature , there is no doubt that PUFA supplementation is vital in improving infant brain and eye development Background There are ambiguous results regarding the role n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and fish might play in primary prevention of allergic diseases .  The aim was to investigate the association between cod liver oil and fish consumption during pregnancy and in the first year of life and  asthma and eczema  at 2 years of age . Methods From the Prevention of Allergy among Children in Trondheim study , a prospect i ve birth cohort study in primary healthcare in Trondheim , Norway , 3086 children were followed prospect ively from 1 year to approximately 2 years of age . The primary outcome variable was parental reported asthma and eczema at 2 years . Results The mean age for introducing fish in the diet was 9.1 months . Excluding children with incident eczema before 1 year , a reduced risk of developing eczema was found if the child was eating fish once a week or more , adjusted OR ( aOR ) for any kind of fish 0.62 ( 95 % CI 0.42 to 0.91 p=0.02 ) , for oily fish aOR 0.21 ( 95 % CI 0.05 to 0.86 p=0.03 ) and for lean fish aOR 0.67 ( 95 % CI 0.41 to 1.08 p=0.10 ) . The associations between maternal diet and eczema at 2 years and between the dietary factors and doctor-diagnosed asthma were all insignificant . Conclusions Fish consumption in infancy was more important than maternal fish intake during pregnancy in preventing eczema in childhood . The intake of fish per se , not specifically n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids , was most important in preventing eczema
There is no evidence that PUFA supplementation in infancy has an effect on infant or childhood allergy , asthma , dermatitis/eczema or food allergy .
However , the quality of evidence was very low .
There was insufficient evidence to determine an effect on allergic rhinitis
BACKGROUND Early dietary intakes may influence the development of allergic disease .
It is important to determine if dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFAs ) given as supplements or added to infant formula prevent the development of allergy .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of higher PUFA intake during infancy to prevent allergic disease .