Maternal fish intake during pregnancy and atopy and asthma in infancy.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
There is growing evidence that n-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and may modulate immune response. Dietary intake of these nutrients during pregnancy could play a role in the risk of asthma and atopy in the offspring.

METHODS:
Using data from a cohort of women (n=462) enrolled during pregnancy and whose offspring were followed up to 6 years, we evaluated the impact of fish consumption during pregnancy on the incidence of atopy and asthma. Dietary intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire (42 items) applied by an interviewer.

RESULTS:
Thirty-four percent of infants had a medical diagnosis of eczema at age 1 year, 14.3% of the children were atopic [based on skin prick test (SPT) at 6 years], and 5.7% had atopic wheeze at age 6 years. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, fish intake during pregnancy was protective against the risk of eczema at age 1 year, a positive SPT for house dust mite at age 6 years and atopic wheeze at age 6 years [odds ratio (OR)=0.73 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55-0.98, OR=0.68, 95% CI 0.46-1.01 and OR=0.55, 95% CI 0.31-0.96, respectively]. For an increase in fish intake from once per week to 2.5 times per week, the risk of eczema at age 1 year decreased by 37%, and the risk of positive SPT at age 6 years by 35%. Stratification by breastfeeding showed that fish intake was significantly related to a decrease risk in persistent wheeze among non-breastfed children (P for interaction<0.05). No protective effect was observed among breastfed children.

CONCLUSION:
Our data suggest a protective effect of fish intake during pregnancy on the risk of atopy-related outcomes.

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Author information

Author/s: Romieu, I (I); Torrent, M (M); Garcia-Esteban, R (R); Ferrer, C (C); Ribas-Fitó, N (N); Antó, J M (JM); Sunyer, J (J);

Affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico. iromieu(-atsign-)correo.insp.mx

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Clin Exp Allergy), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Apr; vol 37 (issue 4) : pp 518-25

Dates: Created 2007/04/13; Completed 2007/09/27;

PMID: 17430348, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Animals
Asthma - immunology; prevention & control
Dermatitis, Atopic - immunology; prevention & control
Diet
Female
Fishes
Follow-Up Studies

Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hypersensitivity, Immediate - immunology; prevention & control
Immunoglobulin E - biosynthesis
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Seafood
Skin Tests

Associated Chemicals: Immunoglobulin E (37341-29-0)

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