Omega 3 kicks babies’ allergies

A new study in the August issue of the journal Clinical and Experimental Allergy showed that fish oil may help reduce allergies in infants. It’s a “gold-standard” study with all the right bells and whistles. And the results were impressive.

Researchers looked at 420 infants who were at “high risk” for allergies (meaning their parents had allergies). The babies were randomly divided into two groups. One group got a placebo oil. The other got fish oil that contained 280 mg of DHA and 110 mg of EPA.

The infants’ allergies were evaluated at 6 and 12 months old.

Babies that got fish oil had significantly higher levels of DHA and EPA in their blood. They also had significantly lower levels of omega-6 fats, which trigger inflammation. And inflammation can set off all sorts of problems in the body–including allergic reactions.

So it’s no surprise that the “fish oil babies” also had significantly lower allergic responses to allergens like dust mites and milk protein.

I love it! Combined with breastfeeding, you couldn’t ask for a better combo to boost an infant’s immune system. And it may even help little ones avoid allergies altogether.

But for those of us that already have allergies, there are lots more natural ways to combat the symptoms. For a more in-depth look at some of my favorite recommendations, check out the article “Tips for a sneeze-free season” in the November 2011 issue of my print newsletter, Logical Health Alternatives. Subscribers can download and view this issue for free by logging into the Subscriber area of this website.

Source:
“Fish oil supplementation in early infancy modulates developing infant immune responses.” Clin Exp Allergy 2012; 42(8): 1,206-1,216