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 .
Body Composition in Preterm Infants Who Are Fed Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial
The objective of this study was to evaluate growth and body composition of premature infants who were fed formulas with arachidonic acid ( ARA ; 20:4n6 ) and docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ; 22:6n3 ) to 1 y of gestation-corrected age ( CA ) . Preterm infants ( 750–1800 g birth weight and <33 wk gestational age ) were assigned within 72 h of first enteral feeding to one of three formulas : control ( n = 22 ) , DHA+ARA from fish/fungal oil [ DHA+ARA(FF ) ; n = 20 ] , or DHA+ARA from egg/fish oil [ DHA+ARA(EF ) ; n = 18 ] . Human milk feeding was allowed on the basis of the mother 's choice . Infants were fed breast milk and /or preterm formulas with or without 0.26 % DHA and 0.42 % ARA to term CA followed by breast milk or postdischarge preterm formulas with or without 0.16 % DHA and 0.42 % ARA to 12 mo CA . Body composition was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry . There were no significant differences among the three study groups at any time point in weight , length , or head circumference . Bone mineral content and bone mineral density did not differ among groups . At 12 mo CA , infants who were fed DHA+ARA-supplemented formulas had significantly greater lean body mass ( p < 0.05 ) and significantly less fat mass ( p < 0.05 ) than infants who were fed the unsupplemented control formula . The DHA+ARA-supplemented formulas supported normal growth and bone mineralization in premature infants who were born at <33 wk gestation . Preterm formulas that had DHA+ARA at the levels and ratios in this study and were fed to 1 y CA led to increased lean body mass and reduced fat mass by 1 y of age
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 .