Serum fatty acids in infants, reflecting family fish consumption, were inversely associated with allergy development but not related to farm residence.
Journal article, 2016

AIM: In this study, differences in serum fatty acid patterns between farm and non-farm infants were investigated and related to subsequent allergy development. We also related allergy-related serum fatty acids to maternal diet and breast milk fatty acids. METHODS: The FARMFLORA birth cohort included 28 farm and 37 non-farm infants. Serum was obtained from 21 farm infants and 29 controls at four months postpartum and analysed for phospholipid fatty acids. Allergy was diagnosed by paediatricians at three years of age. RESULTS: Serum fatty acid patterns were similar in farm and control infants, although farm infants had lower 18:1 omega-7 proportions. Serum proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were unrelated to farming status, but lower in children who subsequently developed allergy, with an odds ratio of 0.47 and 95% confidence interval of 0.27-0.83 (p=0.01) for every 0.1% EPA increase. The infants' serum EPA proportions correlated with breast milk EPA proportions, which, in turn, correlated with maternal oily fish intake during lactation. CONCLUSION: The allergy protective effect of farming was not linked to infant serum fatty acid composition. However, healthy infants had higher proportions of EPA in their sera, probably reflecting a family diet rich in fish, compared to subsequently allergic children.

serum

Atopy

fatty acid composition

farm children

eicosapentaenoic acid

Author

Karin Jonsson

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Food and Nutrition Science

Malin Barman

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Food and Nutrition Science

Sara Moberg

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Food and Nutrition Science

Agneta Sjöberg

University of Gothenburg

Hilde Kristin Brekke

University of Oslo

Bill Hesselmar

University of Gothenburg

Ann-Sofie Sandberg

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Food and Nutrition Science

Agnes E Wold

University of Gothenburg

Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics

0803-5253 (ISSN) 1651-2227 (eISSN)

Vol. 105 12 1462-1471

Subject Categories

Pediatrics

Respiratory Medicine and Allergy

Nutrition and Dietetics

Areas of Advance

Life Science Engineering (2010-2018)

DOI

10.1111/apa.13592

PubMed

27637371

More information

Latest update

11/4/2021