Danish research shows that intake of fish oil during pregnancy reduces the risk of the child developing asthma by a third.
Fish Oil During Pregnancy
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen divided 736 pregnant women into two groups [1]. They gave one group 2.4 grams of fish oil per day during the third trimester. This is significant considering that the average amount obtained from diet by, for example, Americans is 15 to 20 times smaller. The other group received a placebo.
Subsequently, the children from these pregnancies were followed to see how many of them developed asthma. At the age of 3, 16.9 percent of the children whose mothers received fish oil had asthma. This is a difference of 31% compared to the children whose mothers did not receive fish oil (23.7%). The difference was even greater, 54%, in children of mothers who already had low levels of EPA and DHA in their blood prior to receiving fish oil. The omega fatty acids EPA and DHA are the constituents of fish oil.
The researchers published their data in the New England Journal of Medicine. Previous research had already suggested a link between fish oil intake and reduced risk of asthma. The fatty acids in fish oil are believed to have an inhibitory effect on the inflammation of the lungs and airways, which plays a significant role in asthma.
“Smells fishy”
However, the authors warn that more research is needed. For example, what dosages are effective and when during pregnancy is the best time to start taking extra fish oil? To what extent can dosages be tailored to current levels of EPA and DHA? Aside from the best form in which to consume it.
Furthermore, the demonstrated link with asthma is just one property of fish oil. Last year, I wrote an article about a study from Maastricht University on Omega 3 during pregnancy. In that study, pregnant women were examined for the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood (EPA, DHA, as well as the plant-based ALA). The children of women with higher levels were found to have worse cholesterol levels in the years that followed. However, those mothers also had higher levels of the plant-based ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). It is therefore unclear to what extent EPA and DHA on one hand and ALA on the other hand were responsible for this effect.
Reference
- nytimes.com/2016/12/28/health/fish-oil-asthma-pregnancy.html
