A Danish study has recommended that expecting mothers take omega-3 fatty acid supplements to reduce the risk of their children becoming asthmatic.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen followed 700 women from the 24th week of pregnancy until their children were five years old.
During the third trimester of pregnancy, when their babies’ lungs were developing, the test subjects were given a daily dose of either 2.4 grams of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oil) or 2.4 grams of olive oil.
According to the results observed after five years, 17% of the children whose mothers had been given fish oil were troubled by a persistent wheeze or asthma, as opposed to 24% of the children whose mothers had been given olive oil, or 119 children as opposed to 168 — a 29% difference.
Lower incidences of bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections were also observed in the “fish oil” group of children.
Omega-3 recommended in case of a family history of asthma
As a general rule, omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce inflammation, which is why they can play a preventive role in respiratory complaints.
However, the authors of the study also pointed out that the most positive results were observed among mothers who had the lowest blood levels of omega-3 at the start of the study.
The average person currently does not consume enough fatty acids, which play an important role in cognitive, cardiovascular and immune system health. The dose of omega-3 administered for the purposes of the study was 15-20 times higher than the amount consumed by the average American, for instance, noted the authors.
In conclusion, the researchers suggest that omega-3 supplements — which are free from side effects — should be administered to expecting mothers who have a family history of asthma.
A new University of Kansas study has demonstrated that sufficient vitamin D in the second trimester of pregnancy could also reduce the risk of asthma in children later on. Exposure to 10 minutes of sunshine per day is enough to enable pregnant women to obtain a daily dose of vitamin D from dermal synthesis.
At the same time, breastfeeding during the first year of a child’s life can modify the expression of genes linked to asthma and reduce the genetic risk of developing respiratory symptoms by 27%, according to a European Lung Foundation study presented at the European Respiratory Society’s International Congress in September 2016.
A summary of the Danish study is available in the New England Journal of Medicine (the complete results are available to subscribers of the journal).