Omega-3s May Prevent Allergies in Children

Category: Children's Health

Researchers at the Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Australia, enrolled antenatally 616 children at high risk of asthma in an active diet (omega-3 supplementation) group and active allergen (house dust mite) avoidance group. Five hundred twenty-six children remained in the trial at age 3 years.

Findings revealed that coughing and allergy risk were reduced with omega-3 fatty acids supplementation. They showed a significant 10.0% reduction of cough in atopic (allergic) children in the active diet group when compared to nonatopic children. They also found a 7.2% reduction in house dust mite sensitization in the active allergen avoidance group.

"These results suggest that our interventions, designed to be used in simple public health campaigns, may have a role in preventing the development of allergic sensitization and airways disease in early childhood. This offers the prospect of reducing allergic disease in later life," the study authors conclude.

Posted by Kristopher Foster on January 31, 2006 09:36 AM