August 5/Southampton, U.K./Pediatrics Week -- Scientists discuss in "Is There a Role for Fatty Acids in Early-life Programming of the Immune System" new findings in diet and nutrition. "There may be a causal relationship between n-6 PUFA intake and allergic disease, and there are biologically plausible mechanisms, involving eicosanoid mediators of the n-6 PUFA arachidonic acid, that could explain this. There is some evidence that high linoleic acid intake is linked with increased risk of atopic sensitization and allergic manifestations," scientists in Southampton, the U.K., report.

"Fish and fish oils are sources of long-chain n-3 PUFA, and these fatty acids act to oppose the actions of n-6 PUFA. It is considered that n-3 PUFA will protect against atopic sensitization and against the clinical manifestations of atopy. All five epidemiological studies investigating the effect of maternal fish intake during pregnancy on atopic or allergic outcomes in infants/children of those pregnancies concluded protective associations. Epidemiological studies investigating the effects of fish intake during infancy and childhood on atopic outcomes in those infants or children are inconsistent, although the majority of the studies (9/14) showed a protective effect of fish. Fish oil provision to pregnant women is associated with immunologic changes in cord blood. Provision of fish oil during pregnancy may reduce sensitization to common food allergens and reduce the prevalence and severity of atopic dermatitis in the first year of life. This effect may persist until adolescence with a reduction in prevalence and/or severity of eczema, hayfever and asthma," wrote P.C. Calder and colleagues, University of Southampton, Institute of Human Nutrition.

The researchers concluded, "Fish oil supplementation in infancy may decrease the risk of developing some manifestations of allergic disease, but whether this benefit persists as other factors come into play remains to be determined."

Calder and colleagues published their study in Proceedings of the Nutrition Society ("Is There a Role for Fatty Acids in Early-life Programming of the Immune System" Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2010;69(3):373-80).

For additional information, contact P.C. Calder, University of Southampton, Institute of Human Nutrition and Institute of Developmental Sciences, School of Medicine, IDS Building, MP887 Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, United Kingdom.

From the August 16, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition