A new study says the risk of persistent wheeze or asthma was about 7% lower in children of mothers who received fish oil supplements during the third trimester. Here is what you need to know about the study and fish oils -The oils from fatty fish supply amazing health benefits. It’s true – fish is “brain food”. The key component in fish oil is their EPA-DHA (Omega-3) fatty acid content. Fish oils benefit every aspect of brain health, from mood regulation all the way to possible prevention of severe brain problems like stroke and dementia. They also support heart and circulation health, protect your vision, help maintain the digestive tract, and offer support for the kidneys, joints, lungs, and essentially every other tissue in your body. They improve and control immune function, support detoxification, adjust blood pressure and heart rate, and maintain lung function. In short, you cannot do without them – at least not for long.

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EPA and DHA

Derived from the tissues of cold-water oily fish, fish oil is the best known source of Omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omega-3s are considered “essential fatty acids”, as your body does not produce them. This means they are a necessary component to a basic nutrition protocol. We need to consume these on a regular basis in order to reap their vast health benefits. The problem is, despite the body’s need for them, they are generally under-consumed. Americans eat up to 50x more Omega-6 than Omega-3, whereas it’s recommend you eat a 2:1 ratio.

EPA and DHA are precursors of inflammatory mediating pathways throughout the body, and they have been studied for their nutritional support for healthy brain development and maintenance, mood regulation, improved memory and concentration, joint comfort and immunity.

The Study

Data from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC) 2010 cohort indicate that the risk of persistent wheeze or asthma was about 7% lower in children of mothers who received fish oil supplements during the third trimester, compared to those who only received olive oil. Professor Hans Bisgaard of the COPSAC stated, “These results add to the totality of scientific evidence, including, but not limited to the benefits associated with reducing the risk of early pre-term birth and improving child neurodevelopment, which underscores the importance of EPA and DHA during pregnancy. It’s clear that pregnant women need to be encouraged to increase their intake of fatty fish and omega-3 rich supplements.”

Read ‘Omega-3 Fatty Acids Keep You Biologically Younger’ – click here!

Of 736 pregnant women recruited for the study at 24 weeks gestation and randomly assigned to receive 2.4 grams of omega-3 rich fish oil or olive oil per day until one week after delivery, researchers saw a 7% reduction in the risk of wheeze and asthma in the omega-3 group.

In children of women with the lowest average blood levels of EPA and DHA, was a 16% lower risk. In addition, fish oil supplementation was associated with a 7% reduced risk of infections of the lower respiratory tract, compared to the control group.

Source: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Impressive-Omega-3s-during-pregnancy-may-protect-kids-from-asthma