Prenatal supplementation with omega-3 (n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) does not reduce immunoglobulin E (IgE)-associated allergic disease in children, according to a study published online May 25 in Pediatrics.

Karen P. Best, R.N., Ph.D., from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute in Adelaide, and colleagues assessed 706 children with a family history of allergic disease from the Docosahexaenoic Acid to Optimize Mother Infant Outcome trial at six-year follow-up. Women enrolled in the trial were randomized to n-3 LCPUFA-rich fish oil capsules or vegetable oil capsules.

The researchers found that the percentage of children with any IgE-associated allergic disease did not differ between the n-3 LCPUFA and control groups (31.5 versus 31.5 percent; adjusted relative risk, 1.04; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.82 to 1.33). The percentage of children sensitized to house dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae was reduced in the n-3 LCPUFA group (13.4 versus 20.3 percent; adjusted relative risk, 0.67; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.44 to 1.00).

“Prenatal n-3 LCPUFA supplementation did not reduce IgE-associated allergic disease at 6 years of age,” the authors write. “Secondary outcomes were suggestive of a protective effect of the intervention on the incidence of D. farinae sensitization.”

Source: Pediatrics 2016

Dr. Kenneth Backman of Allergy & Asthma Care of Fairfield County comments: “While some reduction in dust mite sensitization (IgE production to dust mite) was seen in children of mothers who took fish oil during pregnancy, the actual incidence of allergic disease did not appear to be reduced by fish oil. There are certainly many benefits of fish oil, but this study suggests that prenatal prevention of allergic disease does not appear to be one of them.”