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Breast milk fatty acid composition has a long-term effect on the risk of asthma, eczema, and sensitization.

Allergy. 2015 Jul 27;

Authors: van Elten TM, van Rossem L, Wijga AH, Brunekreef B, de Jongste JC, Koppelman GH, Smit HA

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and n-6 PUFAs in breast milk are associated with development of allergic diseases up to school age. However, it is unknown if this relationship persists when the child becomes older. We therefore studied the association between levels of n-3 PUFAs and n-6 PUFAs in breast milk of allergic- and non-allergic mothers and asthma, eczema and sensitization up to the age of 14 years.
METHODS: The study was nested in the ongoing PIAMA birth cohort. At the child's age of 3 months, 276 mothers provided a breast milk sample. Asthma (Ntotal=269) and eczema (Ntotal=274) were self-reported up to the child's age of 14 years. Specific serum IgE levels were measured at the ages of 4, 8, and 12 years (Ntotal=216). Generalized estimating equations analyses were used to take account of repeated observations.
RESULTS: Asthma up to the age of 14 years is less prevalent in children of allergic mothers receiving breast milk with higher levels of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated (LCP) fatty acids (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.31-0.79), and more prevalent in children of non-allergic mothers receiving breast milk with higher levels of n-6LCP (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.14-3.03). Weaker associations in similar direction were observed for eczema and sensitization. Direction of associations were consistent and of similar magnitude throughout childhood.
CONCLUSION: The association between breast milk fatty acid composition and asthma, eczema, and sensitization persists up to the age of 14 years in children of both allergic and non-allergic mothers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID: 26214160 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]