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Austrailian researchers have discovered a new advantage to bolstering your children's Omega-3 fatty acid levels: Increasing their dietary intake may help prevent allergies and asthma. Unfortunately, how Omega-3s work to protect children from asthma and allergies isn't known yet.
To investigate, researchers examined the effect of dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and avoidance of house dust mite allergen in 526 children with a family history of asthma. The subjects were enrolled before birth and were followed to 3 years of age.
Scientists found fatty acid supplementation seemed to reduce cough in children at risk for allergy. However, no benefit was seen in kids who were not predisposed to allergy.
These results were very similar to a study I posted earlier this year which found pregnant women with a history of hay fever or asthma who took omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil supplements might prevent their babies from having similar allergies.
Yahoo News November 4, 2004