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 .
Effect of omega-3 fatty acid concentrations in plasma on symptoms of asthma at 18 months of age.
The objective of this study was to assess the relation between observed levels of omega-3 fatty acids in plasma and symptoms of asthma and atopy in children at 18 months of age . A total of 616 women at risk of having a child who would develop asthma because of a family history were recruited from the antenatal clinics of six hospitals in Sydney , Australia . Families were r and omized to either active omega-3 supplemented or control group . The active group received a daily tuna fish oil supplement and omega-3-rich margarines and cooking oils and the control group received a placebo supplement with polyunsaturated margarines and cooking oils . When the children were 18 months of age an assessment of symptoms was carried out by a research nurse blinded to treatment group allocation . Atopy was measured by skin prick tests , blood was collected to determine serum immunoglobulin E ( IgE ) , and plasma fatty acid concentrations . A total of 376 children ( 61.0 % of total recruited ) completed an assessment at 18 months and had blood taken to determine plasma fatty acid concentrations . Omega-3 fatty acid levels were expressed in quintiles of exposure ' as treated ' without reference to treatment group allocation . Wheeze ever , doctor visits for wheeze , bronchodilator use and nocturnal coughing were significantly reduced in children in the higher exposure quintiles . Serum IgE was reduced in the highest quintile but not significantly so . There was no difference in diagnosed asthma or atopy between the exposure quintiles . Although wheeze at this age may not be a good indicator of asthma in later childhood , it is encouraging that some symptoms have been reduced in children with high omega-3 fatty acid concentrations in plasma
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 .