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 DHA‐containing formula on growth of preterm infants to 59 weeks postmenstrual age
Between May 1993 , and September 1994 , a r and omized , blinded clinical trial was conducted to evaluate measures of growth and body composition in 63 ( 32 males ; 31 females ) healthy , low‐birth‐weight infants ( 940–2250 g ) who were r and omly assigned to an infant formula with docosahexaenoic acid ( 22:6n3 , DHA , 0.2 wt% ) from fish oil or to a control formula . A preterm formula with or without DHA was fed beginning at 7–10 days prior to hospital discharge through 43 weeks postmenstrual age ( PMA ) . Then , from 43‐59 weeks PMA , infants were fed a term infant formula with or without a corresponding amount of DHA . Growth ( weight , length , head circumference ) , regional body fatness ( triceps , subscapular , suprailiac skinfold thicknesses ) , circumferences ( arm , abdominal , chest ) , and estimates of body composition determined by total body electrical conductivity ( TOBEC ) ( fat‐free mass [ FFM ] ) were evaluated . Growth was slower in males fed the DHA formula . They had significantly ( P < 0.05 ) smaller gains in weight , length , and head circumference between study enrollment to 59 weeks PMA than those fed the control formula . At 51 weeks PMA , males in the DHA group had significantly smaller head circumferences ( P < 0.05 ) and lower FFM ( P < 0.05 ) . At 59 weeks PMA , males in the DHA group weighed less ( P < 0.05 ) , had shorter recumbent lengths ( P < 0.01 ) , smaller head circumferences ( P < 0.05 ) , and lower FFM ( P < 0.01 ) than those fed the control formula . Energy intakes from formula ( kcal/d ) , however , were lower at 51 weeks ( P < 0.05 ) and 59 weeks ( P < 0.05 ) PMA in males fed the DHA formula . Adjusted for body weight ( kcal/kg/d ) , mean energy intakes from formula at 51 and 59 weeks PMA were not significantly different between feeding groups . The differences in recumbent length , head circumference , and FFM remained statistically significant after controlling for energy and protein intakes ( P < 0.01 ) . For all males , neither FFM nor total body fat ( TBF ) , when expressed as a percentage of total body weight , differed significantly between feeding groups . Among females , there were no significant differences between the feeding groups in measures of growth , body composition , or energy intake . The results indicated that infant formula with fish oil containing DHA and EPA in a 5:1 ratio had a significant , negative effect on growth and body composition in males during the first 6 months of life . It is not clear why the growth deficits were limited to males and not females . The eicosanoids , bioactive metabolites of omega‐3 and omega‐6 fatty acids , may mediate several important growth hormones . The present results do not support the addition of DHA alone in infant formulas . Am . J. Hum . Biol . 11:457–467 , 1999 . © 1999 Wiley‐Liss ,
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 .