Dietary intake of fish and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and physician-diagnosed allergy in Japanese population: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Emerging evidence from epidemiologic studies and clinical trials indicates that ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may have a preventive or therapeutic effect on allergy, although the results remain controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between intake of fish and ω-3 PUFAs with risk for lifetime prevalence of physician-diagnosed allergy in a Japanese population.

METHODS:

Study participants were 78 621 pregnant women and 42 831 male partners from The Japan Environment and Children's Study. History of physician-diagnosed allergy (asthma, allergic rhinitis/pollinosis, allergic conjunctivitis, or atopic dermatitis) was determined by self-administered questionnaire survey. Dietary intake of fish and ω-3 PUFAs was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire.

RESULTS:

Contrary to our hypothesis, an increased risk for allergy was found by multivariable logistic regression in females, especially in allergic rhinitis/pollinosis, allergic conjunctivitis, or atopic dermatitis for fish intake and in allergic rhinitis/pollinosis or allergic conjunctivitis for ω-3 PUFAs. As for male partners, risk for allergic rhinitis/pollinosis or atopic dermatitis was increased for both fish and ω-3 PUFA intake. No statistically significant results were observed for the risk for asthma in either women or men.

CONCLUSION:

Fish and ω-3 PUFA intake were associated with increased risk for some allergic diseases. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings in individuals with high fish consumption.

• Authors: Kei Hamazaki, Akiko Tsuchida, Ayako Takamori, Tomomi Tanaka, Mika Ito, Hidekuni Inadera, Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) Group
• Journal: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) (Nutrition) Vol. 61 Pg. 194-201 (05 2019) ISSN: 1873-1244 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30822751 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Fatty Acids, Omega-3

Topics

• Adult
• Animals
• Diet (adverse effects)
• Diet Surveys
• Fatty Acids, Omega-3 (adverse effects)
• Female
• Fishes
• Humans
• Hypersensitivity (epidemiology, etiology)
• Japan (epidemiology)
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pregnancy
• Prevalence
• Seafood (adverse effects)
• Sex Factors