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Fish oil supplementation in early infancy modulates developing infant immune responses
Author(s) -
D'Vaz N.,
Meldrum S. J.,
Dunstan J. A.,
LeePullen T. F.,
Metcalfe J.,
Holt B. J.,
Serralha M.,
Tulic M. K.,
Mori T. A.,
Prescott S. L.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2012.04031.x
Subject(s) - fish oil , docosahexaenoic acid , polyunsaturated fatty acid , arachidonic acid , infant formula , immune system , medicine , physiology , context (archaeology) , immunology , allergy , eicosapentaenoic acid , fatty acid , biology , biochemistry , pediatrics , fish <actinopterygii> , paleontology , fishery , enzyme
Background Maternal fish oil supplementation during pregnancy has been associated with altered infant immune responses and a reduced risk of infant sensitization and eczema. Objective To examine the effect of early postnatal fish oil supplementation on infant cellular immune function at 6 months of age in the context of allergic disease. Methods In a double‐blind randomized controlled trial (ACTRN12606000281594), 420 infants of high atopic risk received fish oil [containing 280 mg docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ) and 110 mg eicosapentanoic acid ( EPA )] or control oil daily from birth to 6 months. One hundred and twenty infants had blood collected at 6 months of age. Fatty acid levels, induced cytokine responses, T cell subsets and monocyte HLA ‐ DR expression were assessed at 6 months of age. Infant allergies were assessed at 6 and 12 months of age. Results DHA and EPA levels were significantly higher in the fish oil group and erythrocyte arachidonic acid ( AA ) levels were lower (all P < 0.05). Infants in the fish oil group had significantly lower IL ‐13 responses ( P = 0.036) to house dust mite ( HDM ) and higher IFN γ ( P = 0.035) and TNF ( P = 0.017) responses to phytohaemaglutinin ( PHA ). Infants with relatively high DHA levels had lower Th2 responses to allergens including lower IL ‐13 to β‐lactoglobulin ( BLG ) ( P = 0.020), and lower IL ‐5 to BLG ( P = 0.045). Conclusions and clinical relevance Postnatal fish oil supplementation increased infant n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ( PUFA ) levels and associated with lowered allergen‐specific T h2 responses and elevated polyclonal T h1 responses. Our results add to existing evidence of n‐3 PUFA having immunomodulatory properties that are potentially allergy‐protective.