Evidence That Fish-Oil Supplementation During Pregnancy May Not Be a Fish Tale

Allergic diseases are on the rise in westernized countries, perhaps in part because of changing dietary habits. Consuming more n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and less n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could lead to allergic disease by raising levels of inflammatory lipid mediators. Researchers examined whether maternal supplementation during pregnancy with the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in fish oil could prevent asthma in the offspring. A total of 736 pregnant Danish women were randomized to receive 2.4 grams daily of LCPUFA or placebo during the third trimester. Their 695 children were then followed for 5 years.

Children of mothers who received fish oil ha…