Is there a role for fatty acids in early life programming of the immune system?

• Published in: Proceedings of the Nutrition Society Vol. 69; no. 3; pp. 373 - 380
• Main Authors: Calder, Philip C., Kremmyda, Lefkothea-Stella, Vlachava, Maria, Noakes, Paul S., Miles, Elizabeth A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.08.2010
• Subjects: administration & dosage; Adolescent; adverse effects; Atopy; Child; children; Dermatitis; Diet; Dietary Fats; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; drug effects; Eicosanoid; etiology; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; Fatty Acids, Omega-6; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - adverse effects; Female; Fetal Blood; Fetal Blood - immunology; fetus; Fish; Fish oil; Fish oils; Fish Oils - pharmacology; Fish Oils - therapeutic use; Gene expression; growth & development; Human subjects; Humans; Immune function; Immune system; Immune System - drug effects; Immune System - growth & development; Immune System Diseases; Immune System Diseases - etiology; Immune System Diseases - prevention & control; immunology; Infant; Infants; literature reviews; maternal nutrition; Nutrition; omega-6 fatty acids; pharmacology; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - immunology; Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - immunology; prevention & control; protective effect; Session 5: Early programming of the immune system and the role of nutrition; Skin diseases; therapeutic use; Pregnancy; Immune function; Fish oil; Eicosanoid; Atopy

There may be a causal relationship between n-6 PUFA intake and allergic disease and there are biologically plausible mechanisms, involving eicosanoid mediators of the n-6 PUFA arachidonic acid, that could explain this. There is some evidence that high linoleic acid intake is linked with increased ri...