PUFA status at birth and allergy-related phenotypes in childhood: a pooled analysis of the Maastricht Essential Fatty Acid Birth (MEFAB) and RHEA birth cohorts. Issue 2 (23rd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stratakis, Nikos; Gielen, Marij; Margetaki, Katerina; de Groot, Renate H. M.; Apostolaki, Maria; Chalkiadaki, Georgia; Vafeiadi, Marina; Leventakou, Vasiliki; Godschalk, Roger W.; Kogevinas, Manolis; Stephanou, Euripides G.; Zeegers, Maurice P.; Chatzi, Leda
• Is Part Of: British journal of nutrition. Volume 119:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 202
• Page End: 210
• Publication Date: 2018-01-23
• Subjects: PUFA, -- Cord blood, -- Asthma, -- Eczema, -- Rhinitis, -- Childhood; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 572.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114517003348
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1145

Abstract

Abstract: Lower prenatal exposure to n -3 PUFA relative to n -6 PUFA has been hypothesised to influence allergy development, but evidence remains largely inconsistent. In the Dutch Maastricht Essential Fatty Acid Birth (MEFAB) ( n 293) and Greek RHEA Mother–Child ( n 213) cohorts, we investigated whether cord blood phospholipid PUFA concentrations are associated with symptoms of wheeze, asthma, rhinitis and eczema at the age of 6–7 years. Information on allergy-related phenotypes was collected using validated questionnaires. We estimated relative risks (RR) and 95 % CI for associations of PUFA with child outcomes using multivariable generalised linear regression models. In pooled analyses, higher concentration of the n -3 long-chain EPA and DHA and a higher total n -3: n -6 PUFA ratio were associated with lower risk of current wheeze (RR 0·61; 95 % CI 0·45, 0·82 persd increase in EPA+DHA and 0·54; 95 % CI 0·39, 0·75 per unit increase in the n -3: n -6 ratio) and reduced asthma risk (RR 0·50; 95 % CI 0·31, 0·79 for EPA+DHA and 0·43; 95 % CI 0·26, 0·70 for the n -3: n -6 ratio). No associations were observed for other allergy-related phenotypes. The results were similar across cohorts. In conclusion, higher EPA and DHA concentrations and a higher n -3: n -6 fatty acid ratio at birth were associated with lower risk of child wheeze and asthma. Our findings suggest that dietary interventions resulting in a marked increase in the n -3: n -6 PUFA ratio, and mainly in n -3 long-chain PUFA intake in late gestation, may reduce the risk of asthma symptoms in mid-childhood.