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 improves PUFA profile in infants with cholestasis
Long-chain PUFA ( LCP ) deficiency is a frequent complication in cholestatic infants . We investigated the effects of LCP-supplemented formula on EFA status in infants with cholestasis . Twenty-three infants with cholestasis ( biliary atresia after surgery , 8 ; intrahepatic cholestasis , 15 ) aged 1.9 to 4.9 mon ( median 3.1 mon ) were r and omized to receive commercial infant formulas either without LCP or with LCP from egg phospholipids for 1 mon . Liver tests , nutrient intakes , and plasma phospholipid  FA ( % w/w ) were determined at baseline and after intervention . At baseline , patients had high serum direct bilirubin levels ( 5.9 ± 3.0 mg/dL ; mean ± SD ) , they were malnourished ( body fat mass : 40 ± 13 % of normal ) and presented with PUFA deficiency [ plasma phospholipid PUFA : 28.43%w/w ( 26.56–30.53 ) in patients vs. 37.02%w/w ( 34.53–39.58 ) in controls ; median ( 1st–3rd quartile ) ] with elevated Mead acid and palmitoleic acid . LCP-supplemented ( n=11 and -nonsupplemented groups ( n=12 ) did not differ in age , indicators of liver function , and EFA status at baseline . After the intervention , LCP-supplemented infants had higher levels of arachidonic acid [ 7.2 ( 5.9–8.8 ) vs. 4.2 ( 3.0–5.3 ) % w/w ; P<0.001 ] and DHA [ 2.8 ( 2.2–3.2 ) vs. 1.6 ( 1.0–2.1 ) % w/w ; P<0.05 ] , accompanied by increased [ BARS concentration : 1.9 ( 1.4–2.2 ) vs. 1.3 ( 1.1–1.6 ) nmol/mL ; P<0.05 ] . We concluded that LCP-supplemented formulae  improve LCP status of infants with severe cholestasis but may enhance lipid peroxidation
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 .