Eating fish during pregnancy may cut the risk of asthma in newborns

Children whose mothers consume high-doses of Omega-3 are less likely to develop asthma

If you are expecting and dreaming of healthy babies, then its time to add some salmon to you regular diet, as it is likely to protect newborns from developing asthma, finds a recent study.

Asthma is something you would not want your kids to have. Apparently, children born to mothers who eat salmon two to three times a week during their pregnancy, are less likely to acquire asthma, as compared with children born to non-salmon-eating mothers.

Oily salmon, a type of fish, is an excellent source of vitamin B12, vitamin D, niacin, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, phosphorus and vitamin B6.

The associated health benefits are aplenty however it may be premature to recommend daily high dose fish oil supplementation during the 3rd trimester.



The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, was conducted in three groups of women in their third trimester.

The first group consumed omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil daily while the second group took a placebo. The third group was named the "no oil" group who were allowed to consume either fish or fish oil supplements as per their choices.

The researchers found that the children in the fish oil and the "no oil" groups took less asthma medication as they aged to 24 years old, inferring both groups developed less asthma.

A professor at the university, Richard Lockey, said that consumption of fish does not only help in asthma protection but also strengthens the nutritional benefits to infant growth and development.