Fish Oil-Derived Fatty Acids in Pregnancy and Wheeze and Asthma in Offspring.

Study answer

What this study found

Prenatal n-3 LCPUFA supplementation reduced the risk of persistent wheeze or asthma in offspring. For the primary end point, persistent wheeze or asthma occurred in 16.9% of the treatment group versus 23.7% of controls, with a hazard ratio of 0.69 (95% CI 0.49 to 0.97; P = 0.035). Lower respiratory tract infections were also reduced, including 31.7% versus 39.1% at 3 to 5 years (HR 0.75; 95% CI 0.58 to 0.98; P = 0.033) and 38.8% versus 45.5% at 5 years (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.61 to 0.99; P = 0.041). There was no statistically significant benefit for eczema, allergic sensitization, or lung…

Study & population

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in pregnant women enrolled in the COPSAC 2010 cohort in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Intervention

Pregnant participants received 2.4 g/day of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oil) in triacylglycerol form, containing 55% EPA and 37% DHA, as four identical 1 g oral capsules daily.

Key limitation

The trial was conducted in a single Danish birth cohort, which limits generalizability.

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Original abstract