Fish oil in pregnancy may ‘reduce allergy and eczema risk in children’
Supplements of omega-3-rich fish oils during pregnancy may reduce the risk of food allergy and eczema in children, says a new study from Sweden.
It found that the occurrence of eczema and food allergies was 16 and 13 per cent lower, respectively, in infants of mothers receiving the fish oil supplements during pregnancy and the early months of breast-feeding, compared to placebo.
“This randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study shows that omega-3 supplementation during pregnancy and lactation may reduce the risk of developing allergic sensitisation to egg, IgE-associated eczema and food allergy during the first year of life, wrote the authors.
