Do fatty acid supplements prevent allergic disease?
 Probably not, according to researchers at the University of Edinburgh, in the UK.
First, the details.
- 10 articles (representing 6 unique studies) were included in the review.
- 4 studies compared omega-3 supplements with placebo.
- 2 studies compared omega-6 supplements with placebo.
And, the results.
- There was no evidence of a reduced risk of allergic sensitization.
- There was no evidence of a favorable effect on the immunological profile.
- Meta-analyses on the combined data showed no consistent or clear benefit of omega-3 on atopic eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis, or food allergy.
- And no benefit of omega-6 on atopic eczema.
The bottom line?
“Supplementation with omega 3 and omega 6 oils is probably unlikely to play an important role as a strategy for the primary prevention of sensitization or allergic disease,” concluded the authors.
The results are contrary to the evidence from basic science and epidemiological studies
4/28/09 21:07 JR