Breast milk omega-3 fatty acids and risk of atopy in breast fed infants

Dr Rachel Stoney · Professor Michael Abramson · Dr Frank Thien · Dr Rosalie Woods

Funded by: Alfred Research Trusts

Consumption of oily fish has been found to protect against asthma in children. This is thought to be due to the omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids in the oily fish which may influence the development of allergy and asthma in children. We know that diet can influence the fatty acid levels in breast milk of breast feeding mothers. This project aims to determine whether breast milk levels of these fatty acids protect against the development of allergy in breast fed infants. If they are found to be protective, then it suggests that increased consumption of oily fish and omega-3 fatty acids by breast-feeding mothers may help prevent the development of allergy in their infants.

Publications:

Stoney R, Woods R, Hosking C, Hill D, Abramson M & Thien F. Maternal breast milk n-3 fatty acids are a risk factor for the eventual development of atopy in breast-fed infants. Respirology 2002;7(Suppl):A25 [Abstract]