MOTHERS who eat plenty of salmon, mackerel and sardines during pregnancy could more than halve the risk of their child developing asthma, according to a study Cold water fish, including herring and tuna, are rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which play a vital role in regulating the immune system.
A study where women were prescribed fish oil supplements has revealed the link with asthma.
Professor Hans Bisgaard, of the Copenhagen University Hospital, said: “We have long suspected there was a link between the anti-inflammatory properties of long-chain omega-3 fats, the low intakes of omega-3 in Western diets and the rising rates of childhood asthma. This study proves that they are definitively and significantly related.”
Participants who took 2.4 grams of the capsules during the last three months of their term were 31 percent less likely to have a baby that developed asthma, a potentially life threatening condition that affects one in five young children.
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