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 .
Long-chain PUFA supplementation in rural African infants: a randomized controlled trial of effects on gut integrity, growth, and cognitive development123
Background : Intestinal damage and malabsorption caused by chronic environmental enteropathy are associated with growth faltering seen in infants in less-developed countries . Evidence has suggested that supplementary omega-3 ( n−3 ) long-chain PUFAs ( LC-PUFAs ) might ameliorate this damage by reducing gastrointestinal inflammation . LC-PUFA supplementation may also benefit cognitive development . Objective : We tested whether early n−3 LC-PUFA supplementation improves  infant intestinal integrity , growth , and cognitive function . Design : A r and omized , double-blind , controlled trial [ 200 mg DHA and 300 mg EPA or 2 mL olive oil/d for 6 mo ] was conducted in a population of 172 rural Gambian infants aged 3–9 mo . The primary endpoints were anthropometric measures and gut integrity [ assessed by using urinary lactulose : mannitol ratios ( LMRs ) ] . Plasma fatty acid status , intestinal mucosal inflammation ( fecal calprotectin ) , daily morbidity , and cognitive development ( 2-step means-end test and an attention assessment ) were secondary endpoints . Results : PUFA supplementation result ed in a significant increase in plasma n−3 LC-PUFA concentrations ( P < 0.001 for both DHA and EPA ) and midupper arm circumference ( MUAC ) ( effect size : 0.31 z scores ; 95 % CI : 0.06 , 0.56 ; P = 0.017 ) at 9 mo of age . At 12 mo , MUAC remained greater in the intervention group , and we observed significant increases in skinfold thicknesses ( P ≤ 0.022 for all ) . No other significant differences between treatment groups were detected for growth or LMRs at 9 mo or for secondary outcomes . Conclusions : Fish-oil supplementation successfully increased plasma n−3 fatty acid status . However , in young , breastfed Gambian infants , the intervention failed to improve linear growth , intestinal integrity , morbidity , or selected measures of cognitive development . The trial was registered at www.is rct n.org as IS RCT N66645725
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 .