| Researchers
have found that taking omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish
oil supplements during pregnancy might help prevent allergies
in babies born to women with a history of hay fever or asthma.
The study was conducted on 98 pregnant women who either took
fish-oil capsules or capsules containing olive oil. The women
took four capsules per day from the 20th week of pregnancy
until delivery. After delivery, the researchers analyzed cells
taken from the babies’ umbilical cord blood, and found
greater amounts of omega-3 fats in the cell membranes of newborns
whose mothers took the fish-oil supplements. They also found
that babies’ immune cells had less reaction to allergy-producing
substances compared to babies whose mothers took capsules
containing the olive oil.
Adults with allergies who were given fish oil supplements
showed mixed results in past studies. Researchers believe
that omega-3 supplementation may have to take place when the
immune system is developing in order to have a benefit.
Researchers say that it is too soon to recommend the supplements
for some pregnant women, but due to their findings they plan
to conduct longer-term studies of whether fish oil can reduce
allergies in children.
Journal
Allergy Clinical Immunology December, 2003;112(6):1178-84
Reuters
January 16, 2004
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