Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Lipids and cardiovascular/metabolic health

Blood fatty acid composition in relation to allergy in children aged 2–9 years: results from the European IDEFICS study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 71, pages 39–44 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives:

Blood polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are involved in allergy development, but the etiological role of n-6 and n-3 PUFA is still controversial. A European multicenter study of children (IDEFICS) provided the opportunity to explore the cross-sectional association between fatty acids (FA) and allergy.

Subjects/methods:

Blood FA levels were measured in 2600 children aged 2–9 years and were recorded as the percentage of weight of all FA detected. Logistic regression of allergy status on FA components was adjusted for age, sex, country, body mass index, family history of allergic disease, breast-feeding, and number of siblings. The results were given as odds ratios (OR) for current vs no allergy ever and an increase in FA by 1 s.d.

Results:

Overall, higher proportions of n-6 PUFA were associated with higher odds of allergy (OR=1.21 (1.05, 1.40)). Monounsaturated FA (MUFA) were associated with reduced risk for allergy (OR=0.75 (0.65, 0.87)), whereas saturated FA did not differ by allergy status. The strongest associations were observed in children <4 years old, with ORs of allergy given as 1.62 (1.15, 2.29) for n-3 PUFA and 0.63 (0.42, 0.95) for MUFA. With regard to individual FA, these associations were independently observed for docosapentaenoic acid (22:5 n-3) and oleic acid (18:1 n-9).

Conclusions:

Both PUFA subtypes were positively associated with allergy in an age-dependent manner, whereas MUFA was associated with less allergy. The observation of high proportions of n-3 PUFA in allergic children younger than 4 years might help to understand the nature of early onset of atopic disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pawankar R . Allergic diseases and asthma: a global public health concern and a call to action. World Allergy Organ J 2014; 7: 12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Simopoulos AP . Essential fatty acids in health and chronic disease. Am J Clin Nutr 1999; 70 (Suppl), 560S–569S.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Black PN, Sharpe S . Dietary fat and asthma: is there a connection? Eur Respir J 1997; 10: 6–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sausenthaler S, Kompauer I, Borte M, Herbarth O, Schaaf B, Berg A et al. Margarine and butter consumption, eczema and allergic sensitization in children. The LISA birth cohort study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2006; 17: 85–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Waser M, Michels KB, Bieli C, Floistrup H, Pershagen G, von Mutius E et al. Inverse association of farm milk consumption with asthma and allergy in rural and suburban populations across Europe. Clin Exp Allergy 2007; 37: 661–670.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Calvani M, Alessandri C, Sopo SM, Panetta V, Pingitore G, Tripodi S et al. Consumption of fish, butter and margarine during pregnancy and development of allergic sensitizations in the offspring: role of maternal atopy. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2006; 17: 94–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Calder PC, Kremmyda LS, Vlachava M, Noakes PS, Miles EA . Is there a role for fatty acids in early life programming of the immune system? Proc Nutr Soc 2010; 69: 373–380.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Shek LP, Chong MF, Lim JY, Soh SE, Chong YS . Role of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infant allergies and respiratory diseases. Clin Dev Immunol 2012; 2012: 730568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Spergel JM . From atopic dermatitis to asthma: the atopic march. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2010; 105: 99–106.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Jennings S, Prescott SL . Early dietary exposures and feeding practices: role in pathogenesis and prevention of allergic disease? Postgrad Med J 2010; 86: 94–99.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Laitinen K, Sallinen J, Linderborg K, Isolauri E . Serum, cheek cell and breast milk fatty acid compositions in infants with atopic and non-atopic eczema. Clin Exp Allergy 2006; 36: 166–173.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kankaanpaa P, Nurmela K, Erkkila A, Kalliomaki M, Holmberg-Marttila D, Salminen S et al. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in maternal diet, breast milk, and serum lipid fatty acids of infants in relation to atopy. Allergy 2001; 56: 633–638.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Dunder T, Kuikka L, Turtinen J, Rasanen L, Uhari M . Diet, serum fatty acids, and atopic diseases in childhood. Allergy 2001; 56: 425–428.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Standl M, Demmelmair H, Koletzko B, Heinrich J . Cord blood LC-PUFA composition and allergic diseases during the first 10 yr. Results from the LISAplus study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2014; 25: 344–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ahrens W, Bammann K, Siani A, Buchecker K, De Henauw S, Iacoviello L et al. The IDEFICS cohort: design, characteristics and participation in the baseline survey. Int J Obes (Lond) 2011; 35 (Suppl 1), S3–S15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Cole TJ, Lobstein T . Extended international (IOTF) body mass index cut-offs for thinness, overweight and obesity. Pediatr Obes 2012; 7: 284–294.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Marangoni F, Colombo C, Galli C . A method for the direct evaluation of the fatty acid status in a drop of blood from a fingertip in humans: applicability to nutritional and epidemiological studies. Anal Biochem 2004; 326: 267–272.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Rise P, Eligini S, Ghezzi S, Colli S, Galli C . Fatty acid composition of plasma, blood cells and whole blood: relevance for the assessment of the fatty acid status in humans. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2007; 76: 363–369.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Wolters M, Schlenz H, Foraita R, Galli C, Rise P, Moreno LA et al. Reference values of whole-blood fatty acids by age and sex from European children aged 3–8 years. Int J Obes (Lond) 2014; 38 (Suppl 2), S86–S98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Calder PC . Abnormal fatty acid profiles occur in atopic dermatitis but what do they mean? Clin Exp Allergy 2006; 36: 138–141.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Duchen K, Bjorksten B . Polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids and the development of atopic disease. Lipids 2001; 36: 1033–1042.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Horrobin DF . Essential fatty acid metabolism and its modification in atopic eczema. Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 71 (Suppl), 367S–372S.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Sala-Vila A, Miles EA, Calder PC . Fatty acid composition abnormalities in atopic disease: evidence explored and role in the disease process examined. Clin Exp Allergy 2008; 38: 1432–1450.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. FAO-WHO. Fats and fatty acids in human nutrition. Report of an expert consultation. FAO Food and Nutrition Paper, vol. 91, 2010, pp 1–166.

  25. Barman M, Johansson S, Hesselmar B, Wold AE, Sandberg AS, Sandin A . High levels of both n-3 and n-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in cord serum phospholipids predict allergy development. PLoS One 2013; 8: e67920.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Stoney RM, Woods RK, Hosking CS, Hill DJ, Abramson MJ, Thien FC . Maternal breast milk long-chain n-3 fatty acids are associated with increased risk of atopy in breastfed infants. Clin Exp Allergy 2004; 34: 194–200.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Cunnane SC, Crawford MA . Energetic and nutritional constraints on infant brain development: implications for brain expansion during human evolution. J Hum Evol 2014; 77: 88–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Johansson S, Lonnqvist A, Ostman S, Sandberg AS, Wold AE . Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are consumed during allergic inflammation and affect T helper type 1 (Th1)- and Th2-mediated hypersensitivity differently. Clin Exp Immunol 2010; 160: 411–419.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. James MJ, Gibson RA, Cleland LG . Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory mediator production. Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 71 (Suppl), 343S–348S.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Rucci E, den Dekker HT, de Jongste JC, Steenweg-de-Graaff J, Gaillard R, Pasmans SG et al. Maternal fatty acid levels during pregnancy, childhood lung function and atopic diseases. The Generation R Study. Clin Exp Allergy 2016; 46: 461–471.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Asher MI, Montefort S, Bjorksten B, Lai CK, Strachan DP, Weiland SK et al. Worldwide time trends in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in childhood: ISAAC Phases One and Three repeat multicountry cross-sectional surveys. Lancet 2006; 368: 733–743.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Wahn U, von Mutius E . Childhood risk factors for atopy and the importance of early intervention. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001; 107: 567–574.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Tariq SM, Matthews SM, Hakim EA, Stevens M, Arshad SH, Hide DW . The prevalence of and risk factors for atopy in early childhood: a whole population birth cohort study. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998; 101: 587–593.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The support provided by school boards, headmasters and communities is gratefully acknowledged. We also thank the IDEFICS children and their parents for participating in the extensive examinations. We are grateful to A Wold (University of Gothenburg) for her comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. This study was conducted as part of the IDEFICS study (http://www.idefics.eu). We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the European Community within the Sixth RTD Framework Programme Contract no. 016181 (FOOD) and the grant support from EU for the IDEFICS study. We also thank the Swedish Research Councils FORTE, FORMAS and VR for supplementary financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section for Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    A Mikkelsen, G Eiben & K Mehlig

  2. Närhälsan, Research and Development Primary Health Care, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden

    A Mikkelsen

  3. Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, DiSFeB, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    C Galli & P Risé

  4. Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen, Germany

    W Ahrens & M Wolters

  5. Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Laboratory of Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS), Italy

    L Iacoviello

  6. Department of Pediatrics, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary

    D Molnár

  7. Department of Preventive and Predictive Medicine, Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy

    V Pala

  8. GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition, and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

    G Rodriguez

  9. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Aragón, Spain

    G Rodriguez

  10. Institute of Food Sciences, CNR, Avellino, Italy

    P Russo

  11. Research and Education Institute of Child Health, Strovolos, Cyprus

    M Tornaritis

  12. National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia

    T Veidebaum

  13. Department of Public Health, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium

    K Vyncke

Authors
  1. A Mikkelsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C Galli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G Eiben
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. W Ahrens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. L Iacoviello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. D Molnár
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. V Pala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. P Risé
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. G Rodriguez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. P Russo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. M Tornaritis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. T Veidebaum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. K Vyncke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. M Wolters
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. K Mehlig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Consortia

on behalf of the IDEFICS consortium

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K Mehlig.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Supplementary Information accompanies this paper on European Journal of Clinical Nutrition website

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mikkelsen, A., Galli, C., Eiben, G. et al. Blood fatty acid composition in relation to allergy in children aged 2–9 years: results from the European IDEFICS study. Eur J Clin Nutr 71, 39–44 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.158

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.158

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links