Eating oily fish during pregnancy protects baby from possible asthma in future

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A recent study has found that children whose mothers with asthma ate oily fish, such as salmon or trout, during pregnancy were 71% less likely to develop asthma on average; the more oily fish a woman ate, the less likely her child was to develop asthma. “A family history of asthma is a very strong risk factor for a child developing asthma,” said Dr. Frank Gilliland, Professor of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.. “It appears that oily fish interacts with the genes involved in the predisposition to develop asthma, and somehow reduces the risk.” “Oily fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, which appear to be anti-inflammatory, and lead to the reduced potential for developing asthma and allergies.” The study also found that children whose mothers ate fish sticks during pregnancy were twice as likely to develop asthma, whether or not their mothers had asthma themselves. “Fish sticks are deep-fried, and they contain omega-6 fatty acids, which encourage inflammation of the airways,” said Dr. Gilliland.

Eating oily fish during pregnancy protects baby from possible asthma in future (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/05/040526065830.htm)