BACKGROUND: Prevalence of atopic disorders has increased rapidly, but aetiological factors responsible for this increase are still largely unknown. Prenatal exposure to a pro-inflammatory fatty acid status is hypothesized although little research has been carried out. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether prenatal fatty acid exposures are associated with atopy in childhood. METHODS: In the KOALA Birth Cohort Study, maternal blood samples (n=1275) at 34-36 weeks of pregnancy were assayed for n-6 and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs). The full spectrum of offspring atopic manifestations (wheeze, asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, allergic sensitization, and high total IgE) until the age of 6-7 years was assessed by repeated parental questionnaires and measurements of total and specific IgE. Associations of maternal fatty acid status with child atopic outcomes were analysed using multivariable logistic regression and generalized estimating equations for repeated measurements. RESULTS: High ratio of maternal n-6 vs. n-3 LCPs was associated with a lower risk of eczema in the child (P for trend 0.012). More specifically, we found a decreased risk of eczema in the first 7 months of life with increasing arachidonic acid levels (P for trend 0.013). No associations were found between maternal fatty acids and offspring airway-related atopic manifestations, sensitization, or high total IgE. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The development of atopic disorders in early childhood is associated with prenatal exposure to n-6 vs. n-3 fatty acids, but with inconsistencies between different manifestations. Further exploration of associations with maternal diet and genetic variants in genes regulating fatty acid metabolism are required. This study shows that the influence of prenatal exposure to fatty acids on the risk of eczema in the child is limited to the first year of life.
BACKGROUND: Prevalence of atopic disorders has increased rapidly, but aetiological factors responsible for this increase are still largely unknown. Prenatal exposure to a pro-inflammatory fatty acid status is hypothesized although little research has been carried out. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether prenatal fatty acid exposures are associated with atopy in childhood. METHODS: In the KOALA Birth Cohort Study, maternal blood samples (n=1275) at 34-36 weeks of pregnancy were assayed for n-6 and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs). The full spectrum of offspring atopic manifestations (wheeze, asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, allergic sensitization, and high total IgE) until the age of 6-7 years was assessed by repeated parental questionnaires and measurements of total and specific IgE. Associations of maternal fatty acid status with child atopic outcomes were analysed using multivariable logistic regression and generalized estimating equations for repeated measurements. RESULTS: High ratio of maternal n-6 vs. n-3 LCPs was associated with a lower risk of eczema in the child (P for trend 0.012). More specifically, we found a decreased risk of eczema in the first 7 months of life with increasing arachidonic acid levels (P for trend 0.013). No associations were found between maternal fatty acids and offspring airway-related atopic manifestations, sensitization, or high total IgE. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The development of atopic disorders in early childhood is associated with prenatal exposure to n-6 vs. n-3 fatty acids, but with inconsistencies between different manifestations. Further exploration of associations with maternal diet and genetic variants in genes regulating fatty acid metabolism are required. This study shows that the influence of prenatal exposure to fatty acids on the risk of eczema in the child is limited to the first year of life.
Authors: Nikos Stratakis; Theano Roumeliotaki; Emily Oken; Ferran Ballester; Henrique Barros; Mikel Basterrechea; Sylvaine Cordier; Renate de Groot; Herman T den Dekker; Liesbeth Duijts; Merete Eggesbø; Maria Pia Fantini; Francesco Forastiere; Ulrike Gehring; Marij Gielen; Davide Gori; Eva Govarts; Hazel M Inskip; Nina Iszatt; Maria Jansen; Cecily Kelleher; John Mehegan; Carolina Moltó-Puigmartí; Monique Mommers; Andreia Oliveira; Sjurdur F Olsen; Fabienne Pelé; Costanza Pizzi; Daniela Porta; Lorenzo Richiardi; Sheryl L Rifas-Shiman; Sian M Robinson; Greet Schoeters; Marin Strøm; Jordi Sunyer; Carel Thijs; Martine Vrijheid; Tanja G M Vrijkotte; Alet H Wijga; Manolis Kogevinas; Maurice P Zeegers; Leda Chatzi Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2017-10-01 Impact factor: 7.196
Authors: Maria José Rosa; Terryl J Hartman; Margaret Adgent; Kourtney Gardner; Tebeb Gebretsadik; Paul E Moore; Robert L Davis; Kaja Z LeWinn; Nicole R Bush; Frances Tylavsky; Rosalind J Wright; Kecia N Carroll Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2019-12-03 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Kourtney G Gardner; Tebeb Gebretsadik; Terryl J Hartman; Maria J Rosa; Frances A Tylavsky; Margaret A Adgent; Paul E Moore; Mehmet Kocak; Nicole R Bush; Robert L Davis; Kaja Z Lewinn; Rosalind J Wright; Kecia N Carroll Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract Date: 2019-10-15