Omega 3’s May Offer Allergy-Protective Benefits to Children

In the last few decades the incidence of allergic diseases in the United States and other developed countries has been on the rise. The reason for this is poorly understood but scientists believe these changes cannot be explained by genetic factors alone. Environmental issues that include changes in our diets, environmental pollution, changes in exposure to infectious disease during early childhood, and higher allergen levels are factors that could also increase the prevalence of allergic disorders.

What is anAllergy?
An allergy is defined as an abnormal reaction or hypersensitivity of the immune system to harmless substances called allergens. Allergens enter the body through the food we eat, the air we breathe, through touch or injection. Recent advances in research and technology have allowed scientists to better understand allergic conditions to adopt the best treatment methods.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Show Allergic Protective Properties
A recent study suggests that something as simple as taking a regular dose of omega-3 supplements during infancy may protect children against allergies. The double-blind, randomized controlled trial which recruited 420 infants was the first to analyze the effects of direct supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids on immune development in the first 6 months of life. From birth to six months, each infant was randomly assigned to receive a daily dose of either a control oil or a fish oil supplement that contained 280 mg of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 110 mg of eicosapentanoic acid (EPA).

After 6 months, blood data from 120 infants was available. In the group that was given fish oil supplements, scientists observed significantly higher levels of DHA and EPA; while the level of omega-6 fatty arachidonic acid (“bad” fat) was lower. This group also showed a considerably lower allergic response to allergens like dust mites and milk protein. Follow-up studies tracking the allergic responses of these children over time will help scientists understand the long term impact of omega-³ supplementation.3

How do omega-3 fatty acids work to protect against allergies?
Omega 3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) work in the body as immuno-modulatory agents and provide allergy-protective benefits. Higher omega-3 fatty acid levels in the blood (through regular intake)are said to induce cytokine response associated with lowered allergen-specific Th2 responses and elevated polyclonal Th1 responses.

Epidemiological studies investigating the role of fish oil in early life programming of the immune system shows that fish oil has a protective effect. An intake of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy was associated with immunologic changes in cord blood.⁴Collective evidence from research also suggests a regular intake of omega-3 fatty acids may help support heart health, cognitive health and joint health, in addition to strengthening the immune system.⁵

Natural immune health supplements with omega-3s
About 50 million Americans suffer from asthma or some type of allergic disorder. It is the 5^th leading chronic disease in the United States and ranks 3^rd most common among children under 18, limiting the activities of 40 percent of them. About 55 percent of all U.S. citizens test positive to at least one type of allergen, including indoor and outdoor, food, drug, latex, insect, skin and eye allergens.⁶According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008) there was an 18 percent increase in food allergy seen between 1997 and 2007.

This is a great time for supplement business owners to consider producing their own brand of condition-specific omega-3 supplements. Whether you’d like to market your product for pregnant women, infants or children, get in touch with experienced, well-reputed nutraceutical manufacturers. To make sure you’re selling your customers high-quality fish oil holding the maximum benefits for them, choose a supplement manufacturer that works within a cGMP-certified facility and is highly regarded in nutraceutical trade magazines.

Resources:

1. Immunobiology, 5th edition,The Immune System in Health and Disease, Charles A Janeway, Jr, Paul Travers, Mark Walport, and Mark J Shlomchik. New York: Garland Science; 2001. ISBN-10: 0-8153-3642-X
2. Fish oil supplementation in early infancy modulates developing infant immune Responses, ClinExp Allergy. 2012 Aug;42(8):1206-16. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2012.04031.x. PMID: 22805468. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22805468
3. Ibid.
4. Is there a role for fatty acids in early life programming of the immune system? ProcNutr Soc. 2010 Aug;69(3):373-80. Epub 2010 May 13, PMID: 20462467. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20462467)
5. Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Health, Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet, Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health, ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcidsandHealth-HealthProfessional/
6. Allergies: Facts and Figures, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=30#prev
7. Food allergy among U.S. children: Trends in prevalence and hospitalizations. National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief. 2008. Retrieved from cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db10.htm)