Omega-3 against food allergies
Food allergies: help from Omega 3 supplements
Following adiet rich in Omega-3s could be a valuable adjunct in the treatment of food allergies. Hypothesizing this are researchers at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, who published in the journal Clinical and Developmental Immunology the results of a study aimed at analyzing the effect of supplementation with these fatty acids on allergy symptoms. The study adds new details on the role played by these nutrients in modulating immune system activity.
Omega-3 friends of immunity
Omega-3 fatty acids influence both immune responses and inflammatory processes. In fact, several clinical studies have shown thatfish oil, a dietary supplement rich in these nutrients, modulates the activity of molecules that trigger inflammation and factors involved in immunity. These effects do not only affect adults. Even children can benefit from the action of Omega-3s on the immune system: the first benefits begin as early as in the womb. Studies have revealed that children whose mothers took Omega-3 dietary supplements (or ate fish rich in these nutrients) during pregnancy experienced the following health benefits:
- Improved immune system;
- Lower levels of inflammation;
- Lower likelihood of developing eczema or food allergies.
During childhood, however, these fatty acids have been shown to be effective in reducing inflammation and symptoms of atopic dermatitis.
Fish oil against allergies
Brazilian scientists analyzed the effect of administration of fish oil containing Omega-3 on allergic symptoms, using mice as an experimental model. The animals were divided into 2 groups:"allergic group,""non-allergic group."
Animals in the "allergic group" were made sensitive to the presence ofovalbumin, a protein found in egg white that can trigger allergies. In contrast, animals in the "nonallergic group" were not sensitized to the presence of the protein. In a second step, all animals were fed precisely with ovalbumin so as to trigger any allergic reaction. In addition, the rats were assigned one of 2 possible diets, differing in the source of fat used.
The first diet was soybean oil containing 5% Omega-3. In contrast, the second was fortified with fish oil containing 25% of these fatty acids. Analysis of serum presence showed that in the "allergic group" the levels of antibodies directed against ovalbumin were higher than in the other mice. In addition, other parameters of inflammation, including the presence of edema, the number and activation of different types of white blood cells, and mucus production, were higher in these animals than observed in the "nonallergic group." However, theOmega-3 enriched diet was found to be sufficient to reduce all these symptoms of inflammation.
Fish oil against food allergies
Based on their findings, the study authors concluded that Omega-3s contained in fish oil could help in the treatment of food allergies. The finding helps to make the role played by these fatty acids in human health increasingly comprehensive.
Source
1. de Matos OG, Amaral SS, Pereira da Silva PE, Perez DA, Alvarenga DM, Ferreira AV, Alvarez-Leite J, Menezes GB, Cara DC, "Dietary supplementation with omega-3-PUFA-rich fish oil reduces signs of food allergy in ovalbumin-sensitized mice," Clin Dev Immunol. 2012;2012:236564. doi: 10.1155/2012/236564. Epub 2011 Nov 17
