Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy and respiratory symptoms in children.

Study answer

What this study found

Prenatal DHA was associated with fewer respiratory symptom combinations in children of atopic mothers, but not in children of nonatopic mothers. In the maternal atopy subgroup, phlegm with congestion and/or nasal discharge was reduced (IRR 0.743, 95% CI 0.633-0.871; P<0.001), fever with phlegm with congestion and/or nasal discharge was reduced (IRR 0.517, 95% CI 0.377-0.702; P<0.001), and wheezing with fever was reduced (IRR 0.432, 95% CI 0.214-0.830; P=0.007). One outcome, coughing with wheezing and/or breathing difficulty, was higher with DHA (IRR 1.263, 95% CI 1.002-1.594; P=0.042).…

Study & population

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in pregnant women from Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, of middle to low socioeconomic status, with offspring followed to 18 months.

Intervention

Oral docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from an algal source, 400 mg/day delivered as two capsules daily, given from gestational week 18 or 22 until delivery.

Key limitation

The apparent benefit was concentrated in a maternal-atopy subgroup, so the findings may reflect effect modification and multiple-comparison risk rather than a uniform treatment effect.

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Original abstract