Atopic conditions such as asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis (runny nose), along with allergic conjunctivitis, usually begin in childhood; but could diet during pregnancy help to allergy-proof future generations? Lisa Patient investigates
Although there is a known genetic element in developing atopic allergies, research is also investigating whether a woman’s diet and lifestyle during pregnancy could help to reduce the risk.
Fats
Studies suggest that omega fats could offer a protective mechanism against atopic allergies. Several clinical studies have found that women who take a daily omega-3 fish oil supplement during pregnancy reduce the risk of allergies for their children. An explanation for this may be in the impact the fish oil has on the chemicals transferred to the baby via the umbilical cord, with evidence to show that taking fish oil supplements lowered the levels of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines in the cord blood.
However, getting sufficient omega-3s into your body via diet in pregnancy can be challenging. This is because studies typically use a dose of over 2g of fish oil per day — the equivalent of about two portions of oily fish. Current advice, however, is to limit oily fish intake during pregnancy to no more than two portions a week because of mercury levels found in fish. Supplementation with the fish oils DHA and EPA is considered safe, but cod liver oil is not because it contains vitamin A, which is not recommended in high amounts.
There is evidence to suggest that women eating a high amount of omega-6 rich foods (such as vegetable oils and margarine) may have an increased risk of their children developing allergies. A study of 771 mother-child pairs that looked at meat consumption in pregnancy, a rich source of omega-6 fats, concluded that higher maternal meat intake may lead to an increased risk of eczema.
Antioxidants
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